Emergency services were left baffled after attending a report that a person had been hit by a maintenance train in the early hours of this morning.

Ambulance and fire crews were called to the track between Pluckley and Smarden at around 2am today.

Four police cars and a police helicopter also attended the scene.

The helicopter's thermal imaging system detected heat on the line, which was then checked out by rail crews and emergency services.

But instead of finding a person, it was discovered that a badger had been hit by a train.

The animal was pronounced dead and dealt with by British Transport Police.

The response to the incident lasted around 45 minutes.