Rail services through Cumbria are being hit by problems tonight - and it is not yet clear if they will be resolved fully for services tomorrow.

Services between Carlisle and Lancaster on the West Coast Main Line are expected to be disrupted for the rest of the evening.

Trains between Barrow and Preston are also being affected.

National Rail is reporting that services have been hit by a loss of power to the overhead electric wires between Oxenholme and Lancaster.

As a result, passengers are being informed that trains are expected to be delayed by up to an hour, revised or cancelled.

Trains operated by Northern between Windermere and Oxenholme as well as Barrow and Preston; Transpennine Express between Scotland and Manchester; and Virgin Trains along the West Coast Main Line are all affected as is the Caledonian Sleeper between Euston and Scotland.

An update from National Rail shortly before 9.30pm states: "The line is currently blocked from Carlisle towards Lancaster.

"With a reduced number of lines available between Carlisle and Lancaster, trains are expected to be delayed by up to 60 minutes, cancelled or revised Trains between Barrow-in-Furness and Preston may also be delayed by up to 60 minutes

"We anticipate disruption will continue until the end of service.

Please note, it is not yet known if services will be affected tomorrow, Friday 29 December."

Transpennine Express customers are advised that their tickets will be accepted on Virgin Trains on any reasonable routes and Northern between Preston and Manchester Piccadilly.

Road transport is operating from Carlisle towards Manchester Piccadilly.

Virgin Train passengers are being told that if they can postpone their journeys then their tickets will be valid tomorrow.

Earlier there were delays on trains travelling between Carlisle and Scotland due to a points problem between Carstairs and Lockerbie.

The problem has been fixed, allowing lines to reopen, but passengers were being warned that trains may face delays until around 8pm.

It has now been confirmed that trains are able to run normally once again.

Trains through Cumbria operated by TransPennine Express between Glasgow Central or Edinburgh and Manchester Airport and Virgin Train services between Scotland and Birmingham New Street and London Euston were affected.