Plea to trace train hit man's kin

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Detectives are trying to trace the family of a man who suffered severe facial injuries when he was struck by a train in Greater Manchester.

The man was believed to have been stealing from sheds in the Longsight area when he jumped over a fence onto a railway embankment to escape police.

He was found a short time later on Saturday night lying next to the track, having suffered severe facial injuries.

The man was not pursued by police but the force helicopter was called out.

The matter has now been voluntarily referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Stolen items

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Police were called to Old Hall Lane at about 2330 GMT following a report of a man attempting to break into gardens and garden sheds.

"Officers attended and one of them spotted a man climbing over a garden fence that led onto a railway embankment behind.

"The man was not pursued, but officers alerted British Transport Police and Greater Manchester Police's helicopter was called out to help search for the suspected offender."

A screwdriver and a number of stolen items were found at the scene.

The man is described as white, about 5ft 6in (1.67m) tall, with little or no cropped hair and was wearing dark or black clothing.

Anyone with information which can lead to the identity of the man is asked to contact police.