Man arrested after causing chaos on trains for SEVEN HOURS at Northampton

Train passengers faced seven hours of disruption at Northampton yesterday while police hunted down a yob running on railway tracks.

Some services had to be cancelled completely and others severely delayed after drivers were ordered to stop running or reduce speeds on a stretch of track near Althorp.

A police helicopter was scrambled as officers from Northamptonshire's Response Team joined British Transport Police in the painstaking search for the male, which started at around 3pm.

The male was seen running along live tracks — dodging 75mph trains — heading into woodland and countryside alongside the railway to evade pursuing officers before he was finally arrested at 10pm.

A BTP spokesman said: "Officers were called to the line in Althorp, Northampton, yesterday afternoon following reports of a trespasser."

"Officers attended, and a man was arrested that evening on suspicion of trespass and obstructing the railway and taken to police custody. Enquiries are ongoing."

Several London Northwestern Railway services heading towards Birmingham from London Euston had to be terminated at Northampton during the disruption.

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