Reports of a casualty on the tracks sparked a huge emergency response at a railway station - but police have now confirmed it was a “near miss”.

Police and paramedics were called to reports of a person being hit by a train at Canterbury West station yesterday evening.

Train services could not run between the city station and Ramsgate, causing widespread delays.

But transport police confirmed this morning the incident was a near miss.

A spokesman said: “Officers were called to the line near Canterbury West railway station shortly after 7pm yesterday following reports of a possible casualty on the tracks.

“Officers conducted a full area search and thankfully confirmed this to be a near miss.”