The Thames Valley Air Ambulance was stuck on a railway line for more than two hours after a wheel jammed in a concrete drain.

The helicopter was called to a stretch of track near Woodley, Reading, at 2pm yesterday following reports that a man had been struck by a train.

However, on landing, its front wheel crashed through a concrete drain, raising fears the undercarriage had been damaged. An engineer was called to assess the situation and gave the helicopter the all-clear to fly off again at 4.25pm.

Meanwhile, the track was closed and the man, who had serious leg injuries, was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital by road ambulance.

Witnesses told police that the man's car allegedly hit a railway bridge above the line at Western Avenue.

Police believe the man may then have left the vehicle and walked on to the track into the path of the oncoming 11:55am Cardiff to Reading train.

He was said to be in a stable condition last night.