STORM Ciara snapped overhead cables causing a train to be left stranded for six hours in Winsford on Sunday.

The disruption started shortly before 1pm when the Liverpool Lime Street train met with problems south of Winsford station after overhead wires came down.

The Avanti service from Preston to Birmingham was right behind and unable to move.

People were finally being rescued by another train on the other line and taken to Crewe where they disembarked.

Passenger Vickie Sharkey said: "Being on that train yesterday for a total of six hours but the staff and the atmosphere was great. The staff were amazing, all refreshments offered and any food was handed out."

A spokesman for Avanti West Coast said: "A train in the opposite direction was used to perform a 'train to train' evacuation. Staff were sent to the site to manage this procedure safely.

"The first train, as a result of damage to its overhead equipment, was declared a failure.

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"A rescue train was sent and once cleared of the line, Network Rail engines undertook work to repair the damage."

Services were cancelled for the remainder of the day.

The line reopened overnight and a near full timetable now in operation between Liverpool and London.