A 16-year-old girl found dead on railway tracks near Herne Bay is thought to have been electrocuted.

The teenager’s body was discovered early this morning, with emergency crews descending on the town’s railway station at about 7am.

She had been at the station with friends at about 11pm yesterday, but it is not known exactly when she was killed or why she was on the tracks.

DCI Paul Langley, of British Transport Police, says her family are desperate for answers.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of this young girl as they try to come to terms with this awful news,” he said.

“We have deployed specially trained officers to the family to provide them with support.

“Understandably the family are now desperate for answers and my officers are focused on understanding how this girl came to be on the tracks.

“What we know so far is that the girl was with a group of friends near the station shortly before 11pm yesterday evening.

“Sometime between then and 7am this morning she came to receive these injuries.

“Therefore, I would be looking to speak with anyone who might have been near to Herne Bay station during this period.

“If you were in the area or have any information, no matter how small, please do get in touch as soon as possible. Your information might prove vital in our enquiries.”

As many as 10 emergency vehicles were outside the railway station throughout the morning, with the gates locked to commuters.

Trains were cancelled between Faversham and Thanet for almost six hours while investigations were carried out by police.

Cab controller Niona Partridge, who works at Abacus Taxis, which has an office just yards away, says teenagers were hanging around in the station late yesterday.

“I’m not sure if it’s anything to do with this, but it sounds like it could be,” she said.

“The first police turned up at about 7am and then there were more police, and more police and more police.

“Then the ambulances arrived, followed by Network Rail.

“A passenger on the other side of the platform was pointing down the tracks towards Thanet, as if he was directing officers to something."

Formal identification of the girl has yet to take place, but her family have been informed.

A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Friday.

Anyone with any information about the girl’s death can send a text to 61016 or call 0800 405040, quoting reference 82 of 26/07/2017.