An eyewitness has given his account of the harrowing rail crash last night which has left two people fighting for their lives and another 16 people injured.

The crash happened at 5.30pm after the 5.31 train from Sudbury to Marks Tey collided with a 44 ton articulated lorry at a farm crossing in Little Cornard near to Bures Road, the B1508.

The man, who was first on the scene, said the collision sounded like a “bomb” or a “plane crash” and he had rushed to the crossing with his son to see if he could help.

The man, who asked not to be named, works at the Willowmere Caravan Park on Bures Road, close to the farm track where the accident took place.

He said: “It was coming back over an unmanned crossing. It’s made a bit of a mess.

“I spoke to one of the chaps who my son helped off the train – a solicitor in Sudbury. He wasn’t very well and was taken off to Colchester General Hospital.

“There were three serious (injuries) and the rest had cuts and bruises. It was mayhem – I’ve never seen so many paramedics, policeman and firemen around there. They’re getting it all organised now.

“It happened at dead on five to six. This tank must have exploded because it sounded like a bomb going off. I thought it was a plane crash, so we ran down the road and we were the first ones there on the scene.

“About 10 to 15 minutes later the rest of them (emergency services) got there. It was a bit of a mess but I don’t think anybody is really seriously hurt or has died.”