RAIL passengers faced major delays today while engineers took action to prevent a landslip.

RAIL passengers faced major delays today after emergency action was taken to prevent a landslip in the Manningtree area.

One line of the track between Colchester and Manningtree was closed while engineers assessed the problem from about 11.30am today .

Peter Meades, spokesman for 'one' railway, said there was loosening of ground on the embankment because of heavy rainfall and Network Rail had to stabilise the ground to prevent a landslide.

The train operator has reduced the level of service from one train between Norwich and London every half an hour to one an hour.

It was reduced to single line operation and the changes are expected to last until 6pm.

Mr Meades said: “There will be delays this evening because of the knock on effect. We expect a normal service tomorrow although it's possible there will be slight delays as there might be a speed restriction in place where the work was carried out.”

Motorists were also held-up at Manningtree's level crossing as one train appeared to be stuck.