A MAN who lay down to take a nap between the rails of a main line train track escaped with cuts and bruises.

The 22-year-old from Maidstone was arrested for obstructing the railways following the incident on the line between Maidstone East and Bearsted stations.

British Transport Police said the man had been taking a short cut home when he decided to have a sleep. A railway worker, believed to be the driver of a freight train, found him lying down in the 4ft gap between the rails under a bridge at about 4.15pm last Thursday (September 7).

He saw that he had been slightly injured, but had not been hit by a train. Power was cut to the line in both directions as officers went to investigate.

A police spokeswoman said: "The man, who was intoxicated, was brought back to Maidstone East station and arrested for obstructing the railways."

Nigel Jarrett, spokesman for South Eastern Trains, said several services were delayed, diverted or suspended. Power was restored to the line at about 5.20pm.

The man has been bailed until October 3.