A “do not travel” alert has been issued after a freight train derailed on a major route between England and Scotland.

Services are being cancelled and delayed because of the incident, which happened on the West Coast Main Line between Carlisle and Oxenholme Lake District on Wednesday evening.

Some lines are blocked, with a very limited service running on the line that remains open.

Train operators Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express issued the “do not travel” alert, urging passengers not to try and to use their services to travel between Preston and Scotland on Thursday.

“If you have an Avanti West Coast ticket dated May 29 or 30 to or from destinations north of Preston (such as Lancaster, Blackpool North, Oxenholme Lake District, Penrith North Lakes, Carlisle, Edinburgh or Glasgow Central), you can use this tomorrow (Friday May 31) on the same route but at any time,” Avanti West Coast said.

Trains currently en route to Edinburgh and Glasgow from London Euston are being terminated at Preston, the company added.