Police rescued a man from a railway line on the outskirts of Ipswich after fears were raised for his safety.

The man, who is understood to be in his 40s and from the Ipswich area, was taken to Ipswich Hospital where he was taken for treatment at the Woodlands mental health unit.

A Suffolk Constabulary spokeswoman said officers were despatched to Westerfield railway station after a call from a member of the public.

It was reported a male had phoned someone to say he was heading towards the railway crossing and was intending to harm himself.

The spokeswoman said officers alerted the train companies which use that stretch of track, and the British Transport Police were also informed.

Police were said to have had to cross fields to get to the man who was standing by the train tracks.

The incident occurred at around 4.45pm on Sunday.