Van hit level crossing after 'dog chewed handbrake'

A van rolled down a hill and crashed through a railway level crossing barrier after a pet dog chewed through the handbrake cable, according to its owner.

The work vehicle careered down the road before smashing through the gates beside Knaresborough Station and hitting a Victorian signal box, causing major disruption to services between Harrogate and York.

Speaking to the BBC, the van driver, who did not want to be named, said he had got out of the van and left his French bulldog, Reggie, inside when he saw it roll away down Kirkgate.

He said: "I'm just thankful no-one was injured and also that Reggie was not hurt."

The crash, which happened shortly before 06:30 BST, led to the railway line being closed during morning rush hour.

The vehicle has since been removed from the tracks and North Yorkshire Police said no-one had been injured in the incident.

One witness described how the van went past his house "by a matter of mere inches".

"By that point it had got so much speed built up that when it hit the barrier gate onto the railway track, it smashed right through the gate, sent the gate flying onto the railway track.

"The van eventually came to a stop because it smashed into the signal box."

National Rail said as a result of the earlier incident, a reduced service would run until approximately 14:00 BST.

British Transport Police said inquiries were ongoing into the circumstances leading up to the collision and asked witnesses to get in touch.

The damaged signal box, built in 1872, is Grade II-listed and is only a small number on the British network that is attached to a terraced house rather than freestanding.

The crossing next to it is mainly used by pedestrians.

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