THE West Coast main line was closed on Friday afternoon when a train, travelling from Manchester to Windermere, derailed on the outskirts of Lancaster.

Fire crews, police and ambulances raced to the scene just off the A6 close to Lancaster University shortly after 2pm when the fast-travelling train hit mud and branches on the track.

The train derailed but continued for almost one mile before grinding to a halt.

Passengers were lined up on the side of the track, having been escorted from the train.

A Network Rail engineer at the scene told the Citizen: "We are not sure what happened or if people have been injured but there is some suiggestioin there may have been a landslide."

Around 130 people were on board the train with one woman in her 50s requiring hospital treatment.

She was flown by air ambulance to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

An air ambulance spokesman says: "The lady had an existing medical condition which was exacerbated by the incident."

There were no other serious injuries - but the West Coast Main Line is expected to remain closed for some time as engineers attempt to clear the track.