TRIBUTES have been paid to a 92-year-old retired farmer who was killed when his car struck the side of a speeding train at an unmanned level crossing.

Leonard William Maud's white Ford Escort crashed through the automatic barrier of a level crossing and into the path of a train at Rillington, near Malton, North Yorkshire, on Saturday morning.

The 9:09am York to Scarborough Transpennine Express train was travelling at between 60mph and 70mph and was carrying 12 passengers.

Minutes before the collision, Mr Maud had left the home of his son, Brian, at Sleights Farm, Low Moor Lane, Rillington, after his regular Saturday visit.

Brian, a former chairman of Ryedale District Council, said: "I felt a big void. I thought how could that happen in such a short time? I was talking to him as he drove off. The car was fine - he was fine."

British Transport Police have launched an investigation, but say they are not treating the collision as suspicious.

As a young man, Mr Maud senior represented East Riding of Yorkshire in athletics.

In 1939, he married his wife, Violet, and had five children - the late John, Brian, Robert, Michael and Margaret. Violet died in 1990.

Mr Maud ran Westgate Farm until retiring in 1983 and was president of Rillington Horticultural Society, having been involved since his school days.

"He took great personal pride in himself," said Brian Maud.

"He always had a full cooked English breakfast and had got to 92.

"He was happiest when he felt he was helping someone out. He enjoyed a good and full life and will be sorely missed."

The train driver was shaken but unscathed. One passenger was slightly injured.