A farmer has received a suspended prison sentence after he left his trailer overhanging a railway line while he fed horses, causing a train crash and £82,000 of damage.

The actions of John Watkyn James, 51, of Crwbin, Kidwelly, were described as "incredibly stupid" by Judge Paul Thomas QC.
Debris from the destroyed trailer and the train, which was traveling at over 70mph, was spread across a large area.

James, who pleaded guilty to endangering the safety of persons using the railway, was given a 36-week jail sentence suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

No one was injured in the accident, which happened on January 31, when Mr James, who was driving a tractor and towing a trailer, drove up to the Morfa main level crossing in Kidwelly to access fields where horses were kept.

He ignored a warning sign stating he should contact a signalman for permission to cross, stopped his tractor and got out to tend to horses, leaving the trailer overhanging the tracks. Moments later, the 8.30am Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven service was due to pass through.

The driver applied the emergency brakes and went to the floor to protect himself but the train struck the trailer and did not stop for 100 yards.