A person has died after a train hit them which caused delays to railway services in east Kent.

Officers were called to the line near Rye railway station shortly before 10am today after reports of a casualty on the tracks.

Services between Ashford International and Hastings in East Sussex were cancelled following the tragic incident.

The emergency services have since said a person has died.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Officers were called to the line near Rye railway station just before 10am today following reports of a casualty on the tracks.

“Paramedics also attended however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner."

Train operator Southern this morning posted on X, formally Twitter, that a person was hit by a train between Hastings and Ashford International.

“All lines are blocked between these stations whilst the emergency services work to deal with this incident,” it said.

“Train services running through these stations will be cancelled.”

The operator posted this afternoon services were returning to normal.