Trains were delayed after a car drove on to a busy railway track. The driver of a blue Citroen C1 turned right at Crawley High Street’s level crossing and drove along the train tracks before abandoning the vehicle.

British Transport Police and Sussex Police officers were called to the level crossing when the car was spotted in the middle of the railway tracks at 9.50pm on Thursday.

No trains hit the vehicle but services had to be suspended until it was removed at 11.15pm.

A British Transport Police statement said: “Officers from BTP and Sussex Police attended the railway line at High Street, Crawley, on Thursday after a report of a vehicle on the tracks at the level crossing.

“On arrival officers discovered a Citroen car on the tracks with no one inside the vehicle.

“All trains in the area were stopped while officers and col- leagues from Network Rail arranged for the car to be removed from the crossing.

“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances which led to the car being on the tracks.

“The railway line was handed back to Network Rail at 11.12pm.”

Southern announced that the obstruction was causing delays on trains between Three Bridges and Horsham.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “We were alerted to a car on the Crawley High Street level cross- ing at 9.50pm on Thursday.

“All trains were stopped while the vehicle was removed.

“The crossing and track were checked by our engineers and the line was open as normal for the first trains on Friday morning.”

Discussing the incident on Facebook, one woman said: “OMG why would you drive there? “Did they think it was a road or did the satnav tell them to go right?”

Another added: “I’ve been stuck at Crawley station. Rumour has it the driver walked off when realised they were stuck.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has any information which they believe could assist the investigation, is asked to contact BTP on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016.