Three soldiers and a railway passenger have been killed after a train and a military truck collided in Finland, according to police.

Eleven other people were injured in the crash which happened on a level crossing near Raseborg, about 50 miles southwest of the capital, Helsinki.

"Today I have received a heartbreaking message: three conscripts have died in an accident," General Jarmo Lindberg said in a statement.

Thursday had "started with grim news", the country's defence minister, Jussi Niinisto, tweeted.

"I feel grief," he said.


Image: The crash happened in Raseborg, southwest of the capital, Helsinki

Local police chief Mats Sjoholm said the level crossing was "unguarded" and travel conditions "bad due to snowfall".

The Finnish-made Sisu SA-150 military transport vehicle was carrying 11 soldiers, who had been taking part in a drill.

The commuter train was from Finland's state-owned VR railway company.

In a statement, President Sauli Niinisto described the crash as an "unfortunate tragedy", adding the troops had been involved in "a task for the motherland".