THE chain of events which led to the fatal crash at Pools Crossing, Ryden Lane, Charlton began with the departure of the 7.03am Hereford to London Paddington commuter train on Monday.

British Transport Police said a call was made to the Evesham signal box from the telephone at Pools Crossing at 8.09am but it was by occupants of a different vehicle from the one involved in the accident.

By the time the train, carrying 220 passengers, arrived at the crossing, at around 8.24am, it was running 12 minutes late, the operating company, First Great Western, confirmed.

Police said tape recordings from the signal box showed occupants of the farm labourers' minibus had not rung for the go-ahead to cross the railway track.

The train collided with the minibus, which was not dragged down the track but flipped over on to its side beside the railway line. Although the train was not derailed it suffered damage to its engine from minibus debris underneath it and to the first carriage. Only one passenger aboard the train suffered minor injuries.

Fruit and vegetable pickers working in nearby fields heard the crash and went to try and help the occupants of the minibus, as a fleet of ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles made their way to the scene after West Mercia Constabulary received an emergency call. The County Air Ambulance and a police helicopter were also mobilised.

The accident scene was cordoned off as emergency service personnel attended to the victims, while hordes of national media reporters descended on Whitehouse Farm.

Meanwhile, the train was halted about a mile down the track from where the accident had happened. Passengers were kept on board for around five hours before the train was judged safe enough to move on to Evesham station where they disembarked.

Police at the accident scene confirmed three of the minibus's occupants had died in the crash. Three others suffered serious injuries, while three had minor injuries.

One of the seriously injured victims was flown to Selly Oak Hospital and was put into intensive care.

The other two were taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital. One had multiple fractures and the other had broken bones, although neither had life-threatening conditions.

The mangled minibus was taken from the site of the accident at around 6pm.

By Tuesday, the three minibus passengers with minor injuries had been released from hospital and were helping police with their inquiries into the accident.