The man killed in a train collision in Londonderry yesterday has been named as James Craig.

Mr Craig, 70, died when his tractor collided with a train at an unnamed crossing near Limavady on Thursday afternoon.

The driver of the train informed passengers of the collision after some of them reported hearing a loud bang and seeing smoke and sparks.

The track between Londonderry and Castlerock was closed for examination following the collision between the tractor and the 3.05pm train travelling from Londonderry.

Mr Craig was a well-known farmer in the Myroe area of Limavady and the Sinn Fein MLA for East Derry, Francie Brolly, has called for urgent safety checks.

Mr Brolly offered his sympathy to the family of the victim and said it is time those responsible had another look at the safety of the line for people who have to cross it in the course of their business.

In recent years there have been several fatalities on the same stretch of line with the death of two schoolboys and in a separate incident a woman was killed in her car.

(SB/SP)