A man was fatally hit by a train near Ipswich last night.

The man, whose details have not been released, was struck by an out-of-service passenger train travelling from Norwich to Ipswich shortly before midnight.

The incident took place “around a mile” outside of Ipswich, an Abellio Greater Anglia (AGA) spokesman said.

British Transport Police (BTP) said paramedics were called to the incident but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The death is being treated as non-suspicious.

A police helicopter was deployed to provide assistance during the incident, a Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said.

In a statement, a BTP spokesman said: “BTP officers were called to the line close to Ipswich rail station in Suffolk on Monday after a report that a man was struck by a train.

“Officers from BTP and Suffolk police attended the incident which was reported to the BTP at 11.56pm. It is currently being treated as non-suspicious.

“Medics from the local ambulance service also attended but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“A file will be prepared for the coroner.

“The train involved was an out-of-service passenger train returning to depot service.

“The line was handed back to Network Rail at 2.21am.”

The incident caused the cancellation of today’s 6.24am Norwich to London Liverpool Street service, which was due to arrive in Ipswich at 7.08am, as the train involved in the incident was not available early this morning, an AGA spokesman said.

No other rail services were affected.

For update on this, see here