A coroner's inquiry is underway after a young woman was killed by a train at Hoylake on Friday night.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident at the Drumond Road foot crossing at around 9.40pm.

British Transport Police are investigating and say they are presently collating witness statements.

In a statement this afternoon, a BTP spokesman said: "Shortly before 9.40pm on Friday, April 17, we were called following reports of a person having been struck by a train near to Drummond Lane, Hoylake.

"Our officers attended, alongside colleagues from Merseyside Police and North West Ambulance Service, and discovered a young woman, believed to be from the local area, had been struck and killed by a train.

"BTP officers are now working to formally identify the deceased, but her family has been notified and we are providing necessary support.

"The incident is not being treated as suspicious and we will now assist in the compilation of a report for the coroner."

A householder who lives near the scene of the incident told the Globe this morning: "There were police and ambulance sirens going for what seemed like all night.

"It was awful because we knew something very serious must have happened.

"There have been a lot of fatalities on this line over recent years.

"No one knows who it was or what actually happened, but our thoughts go out to their family this morning. It must be absolutely horrendous for them."

Replacement buses were running between Birkenhead North and West Kirby after trains were suspended. The line was reopened at 11.20pm.