A 42-year-old man was killed by a train this morning at Hitchin.

Despite earlier reports from British Transport Police that no-one had been injured, the East of England Ambulance Service has confirmed that a man, reported to be local, was found dead near the tracks at around 5.30am after he was struck by the 5.17am service from Letchworth to Moorgate.

Ambulance service spokesman Gary Sanderson said: “A man was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Our thoughts are with his family at this tragic time.”

A spokesman for British Transport Police said the incident is being treated as non-suspicious.

The southbound lines were shut until 6.30am, creating a backlog of delays between Hitchin and Stevenage into London.