A freight train driver had to slam on the brakes and fight a fire underneath his locomotive at Didcot Parkway Station.

Three fire crews put out the blaze, caused by an electrical fault. No-one was hurt.

The train, which was carrying new cars, was travelling from Birmingham to the Channel Tunnel and on to Italy.

Trainspotter Adam Conner, of Short Furlong, Ladygrove estate, Didcot said: "I noticed there was smoke coming from the side. All of a sudden the cab filled up with smoke and he jammed the brakes on and jumped out. Flames were coming out from underneath by the wheels and smoke was bellowing out from the roof."

No-one was hurt in the incident but passengers travelling on a train from Oxford to Didcot were delayed for 70 minutes.

Sub officer Ian Connel, of Didcot fire station, said that dirty oil, rags and rubbish had caught fire.

He added: "The driver did very well stopping and used an extinguisher before we arrived."

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