A local man is in hospital with serious head and leg injuries after reportedly lying down in front of a train.

Shook-up eye witnesses watched the 42-year-old man, who they believed to be drunk, walk onto the tracks at London Road train station in Brighton yesterday at 7.20pm.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: “BTP officers were called to London Road railway station, Brighton on Tuesday, April 22 after a report that a man had been struck by a train.

“Officers from BTP and Sussex Police attended and found a 42-year-old local man had been hit by a train and sustained serious injuries.

“Crews from South East Coast Ambulance Service and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service also attended and the man was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where he is still being treated for injuries to his head and legs. “The incident was first reported to BTP at 7.17pm and is currently being treated as non-suspicious.

“The man’s family have been informed.”

One witness to the accident was shaken up by the incident.

Student Flo Murray said: "As we were walking through the tunnel under the station we saw a drunk man in a brown duffel coat.

"When we got to the platform he stepped off the platform and started walking up the tracks.

"My boyfriend ran after him along the platform and shouted at him but he seemed intent on what he was doing.

"The train came in breaking and honking its horn. The man hesitated for a moment before lying down and the train just rolled straight over him."

Southern Railways said: "Services between Brighton and Eastbourne are being disrupted due to a person under a train at London Road Brighton.

"Brighton & Hove buses are accepting Sothern tickets in the area."

On Twitter Brighton Station wrote: "PERSON HIT BY TRAIN LONDON ROAD. Get #12 bus for Newhaven, Seaford or Eastbourne, 25 for Lewes or via Haywards on train."

The line was handed back to Network Rail at 8.22pm.

Trains were reportedly delayed after the incident at about 7.20pm on Tuesday.

Trains between Brighton and Haywards Heath and Lewes were expected to be delayed by up to 60 minutes.

Southern passengers could use First Capital Connect services between Haywards Heath and Brighton and also on Brighton and Hove Buses between Brighton and Lewes, Eastbourne and Seaford.

Passengers were left trapped on trains as no services were moving.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue were at the scene, along with police officers. An air ambulance is understood to have landed in Preston Park.