A person has died after being hit by a train near Darlington. 

Police and paramedics were called to the railway line between Newcastle and Darlington around 12.30pm on Tuesday following reports of a casualty on the tracks. 

All lines between the two stations were closed, sparking delays for a string of routes across the region until around 5pm. 

A person was pronounced dead at the scene. British Transport Police said the incident is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

LNER, Cross Country, Lumo, and TransPennine Express routes were all affected by the incident, with National Rail saying at the time: "A person has been hit by a train between Newcastle and Darlington.

"Whilst the emergency services carry out their work, all lines between these stations are closed. Trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised."

At the time, Ricknall Lane in Newton Aycliffe was also closed for some time. 

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A British Transport Police spokesperson: "Officers were called to the line near Darlington at 12.30pm on July 16 following reports of a casualty on the tracks.

"Paramedics also attended, however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.”

If you’ve been affected by this story or you're in need of help, there is always someone to talk to. You can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 from any phone for a confidential chat.