A car driver had a near miss at a Norfolk level crossing this morning after hitting the barrier as a train approached.

The vehicle collided with the lifting boom barrier at Swainsthorpe at 9am but did not break through the aluminium pole.

A spokesman for Network Rail said the car came off worst during the incident and there was no damage to the barrier, adding that the incident was witnessed by a train driver approaching the level crossing.

A spokesman for train operator Greater Anglia said there were ten minute delays to rail services, but these had returned to normal by 11am.

The crossing has been the scene of a number of accidents and in March 2007 one person died after a One train from Colchester to Norwich collided with a Vauxhall Astra