Car hit by train on Newcastle-Carlisle railway line

A car has crashed on to a railway line and been hit by a freight train near Greenhead in Northumberland, badly injuring an 11-year-old boy.

He was taken to hospital with what have been described as potentially life-threatening injuries.

The black Land Rover involved ended up on the Newcastle-Carlisle railway line which runs alongside the A69.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said the car crashed on to the railway line and received "a blow from a train".

"The train stopped further down the line and no passengers are injured," the spokesman added.

Police said no-one else in the car appeared to have been seriously hurt.

The accident happened at about 16:30 GMT between Greenhead and Haltwhistle.

A British Transport Police spokesman said the Carlisle-Tollerton freight train "remained upright and on the tracks".

He said three other people were treated at the scene for their injuries.

The spokesman said police were trying to establish how the crash happened and that the Rail Accident Investigation Branch had been informed.

Northern Rail said all lines between Carlisle and Hexham were blocked.