A MAN died after being hit by a train in North Staffordshire last night.

He was killed just before 6pm on the West Coast main line near Barlaston and pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics less than an hour later.

The driver of the 1.45pm train travelling from Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly raised the alarm.

He telephoned control to report his suspicion he had struck an object on the line.

A body was found a few hundred yards from the Wedgwood level crossing in the direction of Stoke Station.

Rail services between Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford and Rugeley Trent Valley were delayed by about an hour during the search and to remove the body from the line.

Other trains were diverted via Crewe with taxis laid on to ferry passengers heading for Stoke to and from Stafford station.

Police sealed off the quiet stretch of Wedgwood Drive between Barlaston Old Road and the level crossing for more than an hour before emergency services left the scene at 7.23pm. Police said later the death was not suspicious.

A funeral team from Network Rail removed the body and a report on the incident will now be compiled for the coroner.

A Network Rail spokesman said: "The driver called in to say he thought he had hit something on the track at 5.55pm and we immediately closed the line and sent out our mobile operations team.

"A person was found to have been killed in what appeared to have been a deliberate act although an inquest will look into that.

"The incident was cleared by 7.23pm when emergency services left the scene and the line was re-opened."

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "We were called to the an incident between Wedgwood crossing and Stoke after reports that a person had been struck by the 1.45pm cross country train from Bournemouth to Manchester.

"Paramedics from the West Midlands Ambulance Service attended and pronounced the man dead at the scene. There were no suspicious circumstances."

The man's identity has not yet been revealed.

West Midlands ambulance sent four vehicles to the emergency.

A West Midlands Ambulance service spokesman said: "We sent two rapid response vehicles together with a community first responder and an ambulance crew. On arrival it was apparent nothing could be done to save the casualty and he was confirmed dead at the scene."

Earlier article:

Man killed after being struck by train at level crossing