TRANSPORT police have identified a man killed on the East Coast Main Line early today.

A body was found by police and representatives of line operator Network Rail following a report by the driver of an early morning goods train on Monday.

He feared he had struck someone on the track, a mile south of Durham station, shortly after 5am.

The male body was found near the Nevilles Cross cutting, with injuries consistent with being hit by a train.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokeswoman said the death was initially considered "unexplained", as inquiries were made to identify the dead man.

But she subsequently confirmed the man, who is not from the Durham area, had been identified, and the incident was not being treated as "suspicious".

The victim is said to have been in his late 40s or early 50s, but his name is not being revealed until relatives are informed As a result of the incident there was substantial disruption to yesterday's early rush hour services on the main line.

South-bound trains resumed between Newcastle and Darlington around two hours after the discovery of the body, while northbound trains were out of action for more than three hours, causing delays for commuters travelling to Newcastle and beyond.

BTP 'handed' the line back to Network Rail to full resume train services shortly before 8am.