One dead as aircraft hits rail line
At least one person died when a light aircraft crashed into a major railway line causing travel chaos.
Officers do not know how many people were on board the single-engined propellor aircraft which crashed in Staffordshire.
The aircraft hit power lines between Rugeley and Stafford above the West Coast Mainline shortly before midday.
The accident has caused disruption on the major rail route between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly.
A Staffordshire Police spokeswoman said debris from the aircraft had fallen on the tracks and officers were at the scene.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said paramedics were at the scene within three minutes but there was nothing they could do to help the occupant.
He said: "Crews found the wreckage of a plane between two railway tracks. It had struck the power lines for the railway. Sadly there was nothing that could be done and no-one was taken to hospital. It is not known how many people were aboard the single engine aircraft."
Emergency services were deluged with 999 calls after the crash, in a field off Meadow Lane, Little Haywood.
Rail operators said all services between Rugby and Stafford had been suspended and delays could continue on Saturday.
Virgin Trains services between Euston and north-west England or Glasgow were severely disrupted.
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