Thousands of rail passengers suffered severe delays today after a major landslide blocked lines on the London-Brighton route.

The landslide, involving falling trees, happened between Balcombe and Three Bridges and meant no through trains could run.

The incident is the latest in a series of landslides in the Sussex area in the last few weeks.

Connex South Central, Thameslink and Virgin CrossCountry services were all badly affected.

Connex and Thameslink called in shuttle services between Brighton and Haywards Heath and buses between Haywards Heath and Three Bridges.

In addition, Connex was diverting London-bound services from Brighton via Horsham or Dorking.

Railtrack said it hoped to have the line between Haywards Heath and Three Bridges cleared by late afternoon so that evening rush-hour trains could operate.

Speed restrictions are still in place because of last week's landslide at Redhill in Surrey.

There was also a landslide recently at Salfords in Surrey and another at Ashurst.

Railtrack today blamed the landslides on the severe wet weather.

A spokesman said: "Engineers at today's slip say the ground is absolutely saturated.

"None of the landslides has anything to do with the earth moving as a result of any tree-cutting programmes we have carried out.

"We have stepped up patrols to look out for tell-tale signs of possible future earth movements such as trees beginning to lean over.

"We have also been checking sites where there have been previous landslides, but all the recent incidents have been at places which have not experienced falls before."

Passengers waiting for trains at Brighton and Haywards Heath were furious at the latest blow to hit their journeys.

Ayshea Buksh, 26, of Campbell Road, Brighton, said she turned up at Brighton station at 6.15am to get the 6.19 to London.

She said: "We got to Haywards Heath and there were literally 200 people waiting for a bus which took an eternity to come.

"Some people had been waiting at Haywards Heath for two hours in the freezing cold. It is a joke. I will be two hours late for work this morning."

Bank worker Simon Defoe, 39, of Ditchling Road, Brighton, criticised rail staff over lack of information.

He said: "We were just left in the dark completely. Some people had been waiting since 6am and were not told anything.

"It is pathetic that they can call this a public service. It is just one thing after the other - it is worse than catching a train in a Third World country.

"I will be two hours late for work today and they are coming to expect it now. I think most people travelling are also expecting delays whenever they go anywhere these days."

Passengers travelling from Brighton to Gatwick are advised to make alternative arrangements.