A man was hit by a train and killed in a railway tunnel at Brighton last night.

Police discovered his body in Patcham Tunnel at about 10pm after a train driver raised the alarm at Brighton Station.

Inspector Mick Morriss of British Transport Police said: "The driver of a train from Victoria to Brighton reported he believed he had hit something that was on the track while the train was in the Patcham Tunnel.

"When police attended they found the badly mutilated body of a man. He was on the line when the train hit him."

The train driver is said to be shocked and is off work.

Power to the line was switched off for about 45 minutes while police investigated and removed the body.

They have not yet identified the dead man and want to hear from anyone who knows who he was. Contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040.