TRAINS between Colchester and Clacton ground to a halt for four hours while police helped a man who had put himself in a “precarious position”.

Officers also stopped traffic between Ipswich Road, Colchester, and Meander Mews off Cowdray Avenue, as they tried to help a man who had positioned himself near to the track.

British Transport Police said the man had put himself in a precarious position but thanked the public for their patience while they worked with Essex Police to deal with the situation as quickly as possible.

The spokesman confirmed

the man had been moved away safely.

Senior Conservative MP Liz Truss was on board a train which was stuck in the area for four hours on Thursday.

The Chief Secretary for the Treasury was due to appear at the Prince’s Theatre in Clacton for the filming of BBC political show Question Time but was stuck.

Clacton MP Giles Watling stepped into the panel at short notice so the programme’s trademark panel was full.

On Twitter she said: “Just leaving Colchester after four hours on stuck train.

“Well and truly missed Question Time - well done for Giles Watling for taking it on.

“Thanks to Essex Police and the British Transport Police in Essex for their trademark professionalism.

“An eventful evening.”