A RETIRED council worker today described how he fought desperately to save a farmer's life following an horrific collision between a train and a Land Rover.

Ken Dickinson battled in vain alongside police by giving the injured victim mouth to mouth resuscitation and performing heart massage.

But despite his brave efforts, farmer Thomas Holt, 63, of Edenfield, was pronounced dead at the scene by an emergency doctor.

The struggle to save Mr Holt's life followed a collision between his Land Rover and a tourist steam train on a railway crossing at Irwell Vale, near Haslingden, yesterday lunchtime.

Mr Holt was thrown from the vehicle as it collided with the train, taking passengers on the tourist line from Rawtenstall to Bury.

His daughter Diana, aged in her 20s, managed to scramble free from the vehicle unhurt, though she was taken to Fairfield General Hospital, Bury, for treatment for shock.

Mr Dickinson, 51, of Bowker Street, who only moved to the quiet village last week from nearby Haslingden, said: "I was in the garden when I heard a huge bang coming from the railway followed by screaming. I rushed up there to see what had happened and I saw the man lying on the ground.

"I started to give him resuscitation along with a police officer who arrived on the scene and we both carried on until the doctor arrived in the helicopter.

"I just tried to do what I could and it's a shame we weren't able to save him. My heart goes out to his daughter, it must have been a terrible ordeal for her.

"His face will certainly stay with me for a few weeks to come."

Police and the East Lancashire Railway company have launched investigations into the accident which happened at 12.45pm yesterday yards from the station at Irwell Vale where the road crosses the railway line.

The crossing is closed off by an iron gate either side of the railway track which are opened and shut by drivers as they pass through.

Police said at this stage there was no indication that the train was travelling at an excessive speed at the time of the collision. None of the 16 passengers on board was hurt. They were all taken back to Rawtenstall by car.

The air ambulance, Lancashire Constabulary's helicopter and the Rossendale Mountain Rescue team were all in attendance.

PS Russ Gregory, who was in charge of the police operation, said: "We will be conducting an investigation alongside the train company. The Health and Safety Executive have also been informed."

Richard Law, director of operations and safety at the East Lancashire Railway, said: "We are all very upset at what has happened and our sympathy goes out to the family of the deceased.

"We will carry out a full investigation which will include speaking to all of the train crew and an examination of the locomotive and carriages, although at this stage there is nothing to suggest there was anything wrong with the train."

Villagers expressed their horror at what had happened on the line, which has an exemplary safety record.

Donald Greenhalgh, 82, of Bowker Street, said: "I have never known anything like this, it is a terrible shock. This is a very small and close knit community and this is a tragedy."

Coun Geoff Cheetham, who has represented Eden ward for 14 years where the level crossing is situated, said: "In all my time as a councillor I've never heard any complaints or concerns expressed about the crossing. It's very rarely used."

"The trains are so infrequent." The line was opened in 1846 to link the Manchester to Bolton line with Radcliffe and was a popular passenger and freight route which served the Irwell Valley from Bury, via Ramsbottom, to Rawtenstall and beyond.

The last passengers travelled on the Bury to Rawtenstall section in 1972. After that the East Lancashire Preservation Society was committed to restoring the line to its former glory.

With assistance from Bury and Rossendale Councils, the line was reopened in 1991 as a tourist attraction.