Train passengers rescued as tree debris hits wires

Three hundred commuters were stuck on a train for about three hours after its journey to London was hampered by a tree on the overhead wires.

Tree debris became caught on the 06:00 BST Norwich to London service as it headed out of Colchester, where a tree had fallen on overhead wires, Greater Anglia said.

Passengers were rescued and boarded another train to London some time after 10:00 BST, with Network Rail cutting back the tree and working to re-energise the line. No one was injured.

Services between Norwich and London are subject to delays, cancellations and alterations, with services towards London blocked, Greater Anglia added.

The issue has impacted services to and from London Liverpool Street and Norwich, Ipswich, Clacton-on-Sea and Colchester.

Trains were beginning to run between Colchester and Clacton, and from Colchester to Ipswich and Norwich, Greater Anglia added.

It apologised for the disruption and urged passengers on the 06:00 service to contact them directly.

Limited rail replacement buses have been sourced for Colchester and Ipswich, with delays expected due to road traffic, it said.