A man who was hit by a train last night in Highams Park died at the scene, police have said.

He was killed just before 7pm.

A spokesman for British Transport Police (BTP) said his death was not being treated as suspicious.

The man is believed to be aged in his 30s but has not been named.

The BTP spokesman said: “BTP officers were called to the line close to Highams Park rail station on Monday March 4 following a report of a man being struck by a train.

“BTP and Metropolitan Police officers attended the incident, which was reported to BTP at 7pm, and is currently being treated as non-suspicious.  

“Medics from London Ambulance Service also attended but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“A file will be prepared for the coroner.”

Witnesses of the aftermath said on Twitter that large numbers of police, ambulance crews and fire-fighters attended the scene.

They were spotted at the road crossing next to the station, prompting speculation that was where it happened.

But the BTP spokesman said the man was hit on the track between the crossing and start of the station platforms.

He said investigators would examine how the man got onto the track.

The Chingford to Liverpool Street line was suspended for at least an hour following the incident last night.

It comes four years after Robin Pye was killed by a train at Highams Park Station in front of dozens of commuters during the morning rush-hour in February 2009.

An inquest ruled he committed suicide.

The 54-year-old suffered from schizophrenia and was a patient at nearby Naseberry Court psychiatric hospital.

And in May 2008 Simon Sheppard, from Walthamstow, was killed on the same track several hundred metres from Highams Park Station.

The 35-year-old's death was also treated as non-suspicious.