A MAN was taken to hospital but remarkably escaped serious injury, after a train and tractor collided on the Harrogate to York rail line.

A four-coach passenger train collided with the tractor on the level crossing at Flaxby, near Knaresborough, at around 6.30pm on Thursday.

North Yorkshire Police Sergeant Paul Cording tweeted these pictures:

York Press:

York Press:

British Transport Police said the tractor driver was taken to hospital and a Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed that they had taken one man to Harrogate District Hospital with what were thought to be minor injuries.

Other people had been assessed by paramedics on scene, she added.

The ambulance service spokesman said they were called at 6.19pm to a farm crossing at Flaxby, and sent two air ambulances, a hazardous area response team, three road ambulances and three rapid response vehicles.

There was heavy traffic disruption and the A59 was closed eastbound between junction 47 of the A1(M) and the Goldsborough roundabout.

The westbound carriageway reopened at around 7.40pm and the eastbound around 10 minutes later.

Police thanked drivers for the patience. Passengers were transferred to buses.

Passenger Debby Van Aelst tweeted this:

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TV cameraman Malik Walton posted these tweets from the scene:

York Press:

York Press: