A woman has been taken to hospital after police were called to an incident involving a trespasser on the railway line at Chester-le-Street.
Officers were called to the North Burns area of Chester-le-Street at 5.40am on Wednesday following reports of concerns for the welfare of a woman. Durham Constabulary and British Transport Police attended the scene and took the woman to hospital to receive "appropriate support".
A Durham Constabulary spokeswoman said: "Police responded to reports for the concern for the welfare of a woman in the North Burns area of Chester-le-Street at 5.40am today. Officers from Durham Constabulary and British Transport Police attended the scene and have transported the woman to hospital where she will receive appropriate support."
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A British Transport Police spokeswoman said: "Officers were called to the line in Chester-Le-Street at 5.25am today (May 3) following concern for the welfare of a woman. She has now been taken to a place of safety."
Train services between Darlington and Newcastle have severely affected this morning as train lines were blocked while emergency services responded to the incident.
The line has now reopened, however, a number of LNER, Cross Country and Transpennine Express trains have been cancelled and delayed. The disruption was expected to last until 10.15am, according to National Rail.
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