PART of the roof from a crumbling railway station was blown by high winds onto the busy freight train track to Felixstowe port, it was revealed today.Luckily the metal debris was spotted by a guard – who stopped his train as soon as he realised the danger – and was removed before a cargo train hit it.

PART of the roof from a crumbling railway station was blown by high winds onto the busy freight train track to Felixstowe port, it was revealed today.

Luckily the metal debris was spotted by a guard – who stopped his train as soon as he realised the danger – and was removed before a cargo train hit it.

At first it was thought vandals might have dumped the metal on the northern spur line to the port, but it was quickly realised that the debris was part of the old Trimley station building which is to be demolished soon.

Villagers have been campaigning to save the Victorian property, but its owners Network Rail say it is "unsafe and has become a hazard".

Strong winds on Wednesday ripped the metal from the roof and blew it onto the freight track, close to where it joins the passenger line at the station.

Yesterday the 7.20pm service from Ipswich to Felixstowe was just pulling away from Trimley when the guard saw the metal and halted the train.

"He removed the debris from the track and placed it in a position of safety and the train was able to carry on," said a Network Rail spokeswoman.

"As a precaution, trains following that went slowly through the area until it had been checked by staff and was completely free of debris. Once that was done trains were able to operate normally again."

Trimley St Mary Parish Council asked English Heritage to list the station for its architecture and historical importance, but the request was rejected because the building had been altered too much from the original.

Network Rail says it will be demolished soon and a 4ft 6in wooden picket fence will be placed across the gap. Train services will not be affected.

It says the property is just too dangerous to leave standing.