AN elderly man was killed as he tried to pull his dog from the path of a train in Malvern.

The man, who was in his 70s, was struck by the Droitwich to Great Malvern service as he struggled to retrieve his pet from the line near playing fields.

The dog is believed to have survived.

British Transport Police, who are investigating the death, confirmed today the accident had happened on a stretch of track close to Jamaica Road in Malvern Link at around 1.35pm on Sunday.

A spokesman said the pensioner, whose body was expected to be formally identified later today, appeared to have been trying to rescue his dog, which he had been taking for a walk.

Shocked neighbours named the dead man as Dave Boycott, of Matthias Close.

Angie Davis, who works with Mr Boycott's wife, Pat, at the Gloster Arms, Merton Road, Malvern Link, paid tribute to "a super person".

"We were all devastated to hear about Dave," she said. "I heard on Sunday night. Pat had been away for the weekend. He was a lovely chap.

"He'd been the landlord of the Prince of Wales for nearly 30 years. He was well-liked and had a lot of friends.

"He would have done anything for his dog, Shanty. She's a German Shepherd.

"Dave used to come in quite often to see his old friends and his wife."

People living nearby said the railway crossing had been sealed off while the foot-and-mouth crisis raged. It had been re-opened in recent weeks.

"We heard the train blowing its horn and then saw it had stopped," said Gloria Robinson, of Greenfields. "I'd seen a lot of people I know go down to the railway crossing just before the accident and I was really worried because I hadn't seen them come back.

"You get a lot of children walking along the railway. It's an accident waiting to happen. We're really shocked."

Train services were held up for several hours, said Ged Burgess, of Central Trains, whose service was involved in the incident.

He said the train driver was released from his duty and had since received counselling.