A man has died after he was believed to have been hit by a train in Carlisle.

His body was discovered on the railway tracks, north of the city's station, at about 7.30am this morning.

A spokesman for Network Rail told the News & Star : "There were reports at about 7.45am of a suspected body on the line, off the north end of Carlisle station.

"British Transport Police have since gone out to investigate, and to confirm that there is a body beside the line."

A spokeswoman for the BTP added: "We were called at 7.29am to the north end of Carlisle railway station, to reports that a person had been found on the tracks.

"We attended alongside colleagues from the ambulance service but sadly a man died at the scene.

"It is believed the person has been struck by a train."

BTP officers were on scene this morning. The body was covered with a sheet, about 100m away from Victoria Viaduct in the city.

Trains are running normally now after a brief delay.