THE body of a man was found on the railway line near Kempsey this morning.

The incident, which is being treated as non-suspicious, was first reported to the British Transport Police at 7.53am today after the driver of the 6.10am service from Derby to Plymouth reported seeing the body.

The man was recovered from the area, near Abbots Wood, near Kempsey, with injuries consistent with being hit by a train.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: “BTP officers attended the railway line in the Kempsey area of Worcestershire on Monday, July 1, after the driver of the 6.10 Derby to Plymouth train reported seeing a body by the lineside.

“The incident, which was reported to BTP at 7.53am, is being treated as non-suspicious. Officers from West Mercia Police and the local ambulance service also attended and located the body of a man who had injuries consistent with having been hit by a train. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the man’s identity and inform his family. Officers are also working to establish which train hit the man.

“A file will be prepared for the Coroner.”

The accident caused large delays on the line between Worcester Shrub Hill and Cheltenham Spa during the morning rush hour of up an hour.

The line was re-opened at 9.08am with delays continuing as services returned to normal.

There were also delays between Worcester Shrub Hill and Oxford after a train broke down on the line.

This caused delays of up to an hour and half during the morning and services are predicted to be back to normal by 2pm this afternoon.