A 'HOLE in the track' has prompted warnings of delays for rail passengers after the line had to be shut for emergency repairs.

Rail operator London Midland says all services running through the Great Malvern to Hereford stations, including Colwall and Ledbury could be subject to cancellations and delays - at short notice.

It comes following reports by London Midland of a problem near Colwall at about 9.25am.

The operator stated Network Rail engineers were due "on-site at about 9.45am to investigate a hole in the track" for emergency engineering works.

London Midland said: "An estimate for the resumption of normal services will be provided as soon as the problem has been fully assessed."

It is just three months since a similar problem caused delays after a hole opened up under the track, as reported in the Malvern Gazette.

Network Rail said: "We have a line closure centred at Colwall.

"Worcester services are terminating at Great Malvern.

"Trains from Hereford can run to Ledbury, and no farther.

"We have yet to establish whether this is a reoccurence of the problem we had some months ago of a hole opening under the track, again at Colwall."