Passengers faced delays on the trains this morning after a woman had to be taken to safety off the Stockport viaduct.

All trains through Stockport were cancelled and there was severe disruption across the rail network - stretching to Macclesfield and Wilmslow - after the woman was spotted on the viaduct at 7.30am. 

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews were all scrambled to the scene near the junction of  the A6 and Railway Street in Heaton Norris.

She was spoken to for around two hours by officers before being led to safety and taken to hospital for assessment.

Rail passengers experienced disruption well into the morning and some buses operated to Macclesfield.

Network Rail confirmed at around 11am that the disruption had cleared.

Coun Hilda Gaddum, Sutton councillor for Cheshire East council, reported chaos around Macclesfield Station.

She said:  "There was a cordon around the street leading into the station."

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Our officers were called to the railway line north of Stockport station at 7.20am on Tuesday, 30 September, after reports of a woman sitting on Stockport Viaduct.

“Colleagues from Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service also attended.

“Specialist officers have successfully talked the woman down from the viaduct, and she has been taken to hospital for assessment.”

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or go to  www.samaritans.org .