A man has fallen at least 40 feet onto a railway line.

Emergency services rushed to the tracks below Highcroft Villas, this morning.

The 43-year-old is understood to be alive and an air ambulance landed at the scene and took him to hospital.

Sussex Police have referred the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Officers had attended Highcroft Villas an hour before the incident to a confused man in the street and had returned him to the care of his brother.

Southern Rail said trains are still running because the man landed near an area where trains are washed.

National Rail Enquiries has described the incident as a trespass.

It said: "Because of this, there are delays of up to 20 minutes. These delays will continue until approximately midday."

Click here to find out how the incident will affect your journey.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: “BTP and Sussex Police officers were called to the railway lines near to Brighton rail station on Wednesday, 21 March following a report of an injured man trackside.

“The incident was reported to BTP at 10.22am.

“Officers are currently working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, including how the man came to be by the tracks.

“The man’s injuries are believed to be consistent with falling from height from Highcroft Villas, above the railway line.

“East Sussex Fire and Rescue service also attended, alongside paramedics from the South East Coast Ambulance. A charity helicopter airlifted the man to hospital.”

The railway line was handed back to Network Rail at 11.32am.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “Police are working with British Transport Police (BTP) to investigate the incident. The family of the 43-year-old man are being offered support at this difficult time."

Highcroft Villas was closed to traffic during the operation.

Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 405040, quoting reference 192 of March 21.