A FALSE alarm over a rail fatality in Essex caused misery for thousands of travellers and commuters this morning.The driver of an empty stock train from London Liverpool Street to Chelmsford reported that he thought he had hit an individual on the track near Brentwood.

By Graham Dines

A FALSE alarm over a rail fatality in Essex caused misery for thousands of travellers and commuters this morning.

The driver of an empty stock train from London Liverpool Street to Chelmsford reported that he thought he had hit an individual on the track near Brentwood.

All four InterCity and suburban lines to and from London were immediately shut while investigators searched the track.

No body was found and the lines were reopened - but scores of trains to and from the Capital were delayed or cancelled.

The knock-on effects were still being felt mid-morning. Delayed services to and from Lowestoft, Harwich, Clacton-on-Sea and Braintree were terminated at Colchester, Ipswich, and Witham, badly affecting branch line stations.

The 10.30am Norwich to Liverpool Street service, due in Ipswich at 11.08am, was cancelled while the 11am Norwich to Liverpool Street was revised to no longer call at Manningtree, Colchester and Shenfield.