Police are searching for a man who abandoned a car at a level crossing following a police chase in Thanet last night.

Officers from Kent and British Transport Police called in the helicopter to help locate the driver, who fled the scene just after 7.30pm.

Southeastern were forced to delay trains - cancelling services through Minster due to the obstruction at the crossing in Watchester Lane.

Police initially tried to stop the car on the A299.

A short while later, the vehicle was found at the rail crossing in Minister but the driver was nowhere to be found. Enquiries remain ongoing to locate him.

Network Rail engineers assessed whether any damage has been done to the line and the car was off the track by 8.51pm.

At the time Southeastern tweeted that trains are still able to run from Canterbury West to Ramsgate and that trains between Ashford International and Ramsgate may be diverted via Dover Priory.

The train company also suggested passengers using the High Speed trains to St Pancras travel to Ashford International and change there.