A WOMAN has died after she was hit by a train near Stroud.

Trains ground to a halt between Swindon and Cheltenham after the woman, thought to be in her 50s, was struck near a crossing in Frampton Mansell at around 8.15am.

A villager described a busy scene, with around a dozen people from the emergency services supported by a police helicopter, which was hovering over the track.

Original reports from transport police said the person killed was a man, but they later revealed it was a woman.

It is not yet known how the woman came to be on the tracks as the 7.50am from Swindon to Gloucester came through.

A woman living next to the track, who asked not to be named, said: “The first we knew about it was a helicopter coming over. Everyone’s wondering how it happened – the train track around here is very accessible in some places.

Commuters were left stranded on a train as teams from British Transport Police and Network Rail cleared the line.

Trains started to run again at around 11am – with Great Western Railway warning of delays of up to an hour.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: “We were called to the line at Frampton Mansell, Stroud, at 8.15am this morning (3 March) following reports of a person being struck by a train.

“Initial reports suggested a man had been hit but it has now been established the deceased is a woman, who is believed to be in her 50s.

“At this stage, the death is not being treated at suspicious.

“The woman’s identity is yet to be confirmed and officers are continuing to make enquiries to inform her next of kin.”

Do you know the woman who was killed? Contact jaw@stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk