TRIBUTES have poured in after a teenager was hit by a train at Winchester railway station last night.

Scores of horrified passengers looked on when the teenage boy was hit by a freight train just after 5pm from the busy southbound platform.

Hampshire police, south central ambulance service and British Transport Police attended the scene.

The incident caused the entire station to be locked down immediately causing long delays for people travelling to and from London Waterloo, Portsmouth, Southampton Central, Weymouth, Basingstoke and Eastleigh.

It also affected the CrossCountry trains between Birmingham New Street and Bournemouth.

All services were suspended until approximately 6.30pm.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesperson said: “BTP officers were called to Winchester station, on Friday February 7 after a report that a person had been struck by a train.

“Officers from the BTP and Hampshire Police attended the incident, which was reported to BTP at 5.16pm and is currently being treated as non suspicious. Medics from the local ambulance service also attended but the person was pronounced deceased at the scene. A file will be prepared for the coroner.

“The train involved was a freight service. The line was handed back at 6.29pm.”

Twitter was alive with tributes to the unknown male last night.

Kerry Gould wrote: “Rip to the boy killed at Winchester train station tonight, my thoughts go out to his friends and family.”

Jenna Balckett wrote: “So sad news about the young boy who was killed by a freight train at Winchester train station.”

Winchester Today wrote: “Sad, sad evening at Winchester train station. Thoughts with family, emergency services.”

Anna Witkowska, manager for cafe destino, said she was called by one of her members of staff at the time of the incident.

She said: “I got a call from my member of staff who said she had heard a noise like a fast train moving and then a bang. Then she said the shutters came down immediately and she was closed in and had to shout to the staff to let her out.

“She was told just to leave it and get out.”

Lula Flack, manager of Catkins and Pussywillow florist, said: “My boyfriend was about to come in from London so I though he wasn’t going to be able to come home. My manager, Ellie Marlow, was on the platform when it happened and she said it was all very quick.”