Father-of-two Julian Gunning was killed instantly by a train as he tried to save his pet dog on a railway line in Sussex on 21 July, 2008.

Mr Gunning, 49, from Ashburton in Devon, was hit by the train while on holiday visiting relatives in Horsham with his wife Caroline and two daughters, aged eight and 12, when the accident happened at the Itchingfield crossing near Christ's Hospital railway station.

He was a well-known and liked man in the town, who at one time worked in the insurance business and was known as 'the man from the Pru’, neighbours said.

A British Transport Police spokeswoman said the driver of the 11.11am Southampton to London Victoria service attempted to make an emergency stop, but could not do so in time.

She said: "The train was approaching the crossing at 75mph when the driver saw a man and his family on the side. But the man went back to a dog which was on the railway line and both were struck and killed."

In a statement the family said: "In the early afternoon of Monday, July 21, while out walking towards Sharpenhurst Hill with their dog, they were crossing the railway line carefully at Christ's Hospital only to realise the dog had unexpectedly stopped on the track.

"In trying to retrieve the dog, Julian Gunning was struck by a passing train and both were instantly killed. Julian was a devoted family man whose untimely death has devastated his whole family."

Mr Gunning's next door neighbour Marie Bulley said: "The whole of Ashburton knew him and he was a well liked man. He was the insurance man.

Neighbour Janet Lane said she saw news of the accident on television. She said: "He was a very, very nice man. I have known him for about 30 years.

"Their dog was a golden retriever I think but I don't know its name. It was a beautiful dog. He always had a dog and I often saw him taking it for a walk in the street.

"They were a lovely family with lovely children. At one time he worked for the Prudential and was known in the town as 'the man from the Pru'. He did that for years and years. Recently I think he worked for himself as a financial adviser."