A MAN stepped out onto railway tracks in front of a moving train yesterday.

The southbound Virgin train managed to stop before it hit him north of Darlington railway station, but the man stood between the tracks and refused to move.

Trains were delayed after the incident on the Five Arches Bridge as police and train officials tried to persuade the unknown man to move away.

The train guard on the Bristol-bound train tried to reason with the man, who eventually ran away from the scene.

Four officers from British Transport Police checked the area thoroughly but the man had vanished.

Trains were delayed from about 4pm as following services had to slow down in case the man was still in the area.

PC Mark Stokes, of British Transport Police, said the man "stated that he wanted to end it all" and then he vanished.

PC Stokes said: "We kept a caution on the line, which meant trains kept moving but at a slower speed."

He said people who trespassed on rail lines could face prosecution with a fine of up to £1,000.

However, he said they would not prosecute people who were suffering from mental illnesses.

A spokesman for GNER said six services had been delayed for 25 minutes.