Trains halted after trackside fire

Some trains running to and from London Liverpool Street station have been stopped following multiple trackside fires.

At 14:57 BST, Greater Anglia reported a fire at Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire meant all trains had been halted on one line.

The rail operator said London Fire Brigade asked trains to be stopped because of multiple fires close to the railway lines. Smoke is also affecting traffic on the M25, the fire service said.

Rail services to and from Stansted Airport in Essex, Cambridge North, Meridian Water in Hertfordshire and Hertford East are all affected.

Further trains would be delayed, cancelled or diverted via Seven Sisters, a spokesperson added.

London Fire Brigade (LBF) said 14 engines were used to tackle a grass fire, near Lea Road in Waltham Abbey, which is close by. It added, the fire was now under control.

On its website LFB said at the height of the fire, about 14 hectares of grassland was alight. Crews used water backpacks and wildfire beaters to tackle it.

It is unclear whether this is a separate blaze and the BBC has asked the service how many incidents it is dealing with in the area.

Greater Anglia also said Network Rail officers were on site, "working as quickly as possible" to help restore train services to normal.

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