A man who died after being hit by a train at a level crossing on farmland was a serving police officer, Kent Police confirmed last night.

The man, 43, from Thanet, was hit at the remote crossing between Herne Bay and Birchington in Kent at 10.25am.

Eighty five people were on board the 9.59am service from Ramsgate to London Victoria when the incident happened.

The police officer was killed on a level crossing in Kent. Pictured above is the level crossing in Staines, Surrey, where pensioner Terri Mansell was killed after being struck by a train

A Kent Police spokeswoman said: "We are still looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident, but the man's family have been informed.

"His colleagues have also been notified. It's been a very sad day for staff."

The man's identity has not yet been released by police, but a post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out tomorrow.

The train was damaged in the crash, though no other injuries were reported.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: "The train was travelling at 80mph when the driver spotted the man lying partially on the line about 100 metres ahead of him.

"There appear to be no suspicious circumstances at this stage and an investigation for the coroner is under way."

Passengers were left stranded in their carriages for almost three hours while emergency services turned off the power to recover the man's body and carry out temporary repairs.

Replacement bus services on the affected line were put in place.

A Southeastern spokesman said: "Clearly it was upsetting for all concerned. This happened at a remote foot crossing between two stations, so it was considered safer to keep passengers on the train, rather than take them off.

"We did all we could to make them as comfortable as possible in difficult circumstances. Our sympathies are with the family and friends of the person concerned."