TRAINS were stopped after a rail company received reports of a "vulnerable person" on the railway.

Southern Rail announced all lines between Crawley and Horsham had been blocked at 7.30pm.

A spokesman for the company said: "Due to reports of a vulnerable person on the railway between Crawley and Horsham, all lines are blocked.

"Services running through these stations will be delayed or cancelled."

At about 7.45pm the spokesman provided an update.

He said: "The person is safe and trains are going to be able to run through the area at normal speed again very shortly.

"Some residual delays will remain to service whilst this happens."

This follows news earlier today that a person was hit by a train between Haywards Heath and Gatwick airport.

A spokesman for Southern Rail said: "It is with great sadness that we report a person has been hit by a train between Haywards Heath and Gatwick Airport."