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| Fatal crash plane hits rail line | Fatal crash plane hits rail line |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least two people died when their light aircraft crashed into overhead power lines on the West Coast Main Line in Staffordshire. | |
| The single-engine plane came down where two tracks fork in Little Haywood, near Stafford, just before 1200 GMT. | The single-engine plane came down where two tracks fork in Little Haywood, near Stafford, just before 1200 GMT. |
| The pilot has been named as Alan Matthews, who had 19 years' experience of flying. | |
| A British Transport Police spokesman said officers could not rule out finding more bodies at the crash site. | A British Transport Police spokesman said officers could not rule out finding more bodies at the crash site. |
| Part of the major rail route is closed, disrupting travel between London Euston, the North West and Scotland. | Part of the major rail route is closed, disrupting travel between London Euston, the North West and Scotland. |
| Recovery operations are taking place but the line is not expected to be fully restored this weekend, the spokesman said. | Recovery operations are taking place but the line is not expected to be fully restored this weekend, the spokesman said. |
| Network Rail said all services through the area would be suspended until Saturday at the earliest. | Network Rail said all services through the area would be suspended until Saturday at the earliest. |
| We ran into the garden and just saw something drop from the sky Eyewitness Janet Hemmings | We ran into the garden and just saw something drop from the sky Eyewitness Janet Hemmings |
| Friday evening rush hour services from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street, Birmingham New Street and Glasgow Central were cancelled. | Friday evening rush hour services from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street, Birmingham New Street and Glasgow Central were cancelled. |
| Virgin Trains said passengers could use alternative services and that diversions were in place. | Virgin Trains said passengers could use alternative services and that diversions were in place. |
| London Midland, which runs trains from Birmingham to Liverpool and from Crewe to London Euston, has suspended all services in the area. | London Midland, which runs trains from Birmingham to Liverpool and from Crewe to London Euston, has suspended all services in the area. |
| Replacement buses have been set up. | Replacement buses have been set up. |
| 'Black smoke' | 'Black smoke' |
| Virgin Trains tickets dated for Friday will still be valid on Saturday. | |
| Janet Hemmings, from Crewe, who was visiting her sister at the time, witnessed the crash. | Janet Hemmings, from Crewe, who was visiting her sister at the time, witnessed the crash. |
| She said: "We just heard a terrible noise, it was just too low to believe it sounded normal. | She said: "We just heard a terrible noise, it was just too low to believe it sounded normal. |
| Scotland trains delayed after crash | Scotland trains delayed after crash |
| "Then my husband started shouting, 'I can see it coming down' and we ran into the garden and just saw something drop from the sky. | "Then my husband started shouting, 'I can see it coming down' and we ran into the garden and just saw something drop from the sky. |
| "There was just a big plume of black smoke and you could see the power cables to the railway line had actually snapped where it had obviously landed on the power cables." | "There was just a big plume of black smoke and you could see the power cables to the railway line had actually snapped where it had obviously landed on the power cables." |
| Local resident Gerald Simpkin saw the plane come down and described it as looking like it was performing acrobatics. | Local resident Gerald Simpkin saw the plane come down and described it as looking like it was performing acrobatics. |
| He said: "We expected it to come back again but it didn't. | |
| "We did not hear anything. There was no explosion, no smoke. A few minutes later we saw air ambulances arrive. It is tragic." | "We did not hear anything. There was no explosion, no smoke. A few minutes later we saw air ambulances arrive. It is tragic." |
| A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "On arrival crews found the wreckage of a plane between two railway tracks - it had struck the power lines for the railway. | A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "On arrival crews found the wreckage of a plane between two railway tracks - it had struck the power lines for the railway. |
| "Sadly there was nothing that could be done and and no-one has been taken to hospital." | "Sadly there was nothing that could be done and and no-one has been taken to hospital." |
Are you in the area? Have you seen anything or have you been affected by the crash? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you seen anything or have you been affected by the crash? Send us your comments using the form below: |
| You can also send us pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | You can also send us pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |