Passengers faced disruption on a rail service after a petrol canister was thrown on the tracks.

There had been no trains running from Margate to Faversham after the incident at Westgate-On-Sea station caused the power supply to fail.

Delays lasted for several hours.

Network Rail staff removed the object and restored the power to allow the trains to clear at a reduced speed.

The track was then inspected for any damage that may need to be fixed.

Operations and Safety Director for Southeastern Scott Brightwell said: “This afternoon, train services between Margate and Faversham were disrupted between 1pm and 3pm due to a petrol cannister thrown onto the line, which resulted in an electricity supply failure at Westgate-on-Sea.

“To ensure our customers could continue their journeys, replacement buses were arranged.

“We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused by this disruption.

“If your journey was delayed by 15 minutes or more, you may be eligible for Delay Repay compensation.

“Please visit our website or contact our customer service team for more information on how to apply”.

Police have been approached for further information.