Train services in north west England have been badly disrupted after a car crashed on to the railway in a cutting at Salford.

A man is reported to have been injured, although not critically, and he has been arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving. Overhead wires were damaged in the incident, and Network Rail has been working to remove the wrecked car and repair the damage.

The railway through Eccles has been blocked, and National Rail has warned that services are affected on many routes.

National Rail is reporting disruption on Northern services between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport, between Wigan North Western and Manchester Victoria, also between Chester and Leeds, and Manchester Victoria, on TransPennine Express services Liverpool Lime Street and Hull, Manchester Victoria and Newcastle, and also between Lancaster and Manchester Airport, and on Transport for Wales between Llandudno and Manchester Airport and Manchester Oxford Road, and also between Holyhead and Manchester Airport.

It is not thought that train services can be restored before 22.00 tonight.