Sussex rail Travellers faced disruption today after a train crashed into buffers at a busy main line station.

Passengers travelling from Hastings were delayed after the accident involving a Connex South Eastern train at Charing Cross station, London.

The six-car train, from Kent, was damaged and the driver was reported to be badly shaken.

No one was hurt in the crash at 4.40am but Charing Cross remained shut until 7am and by mid-morning two platforms were still out of service.

Travellers on the Hastings, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge line were diverted while crash investigators carried out inquiries.

A Connex spokesman said: "We hope to resume normal peak time services by this evening."

Connex has launched an investigation with Railtrack into the accident. It is thought the train was travelling at about 20mph.