Trains between Birmingham and London Euston were halted for about 15 minutes after cattle wandered on to tracks.

Staff on a London Northwestern Railway service heading to London told passengers that services had been suspended at around 5.30pm on Monday because two cows were blocking the line north of Rugby, Warwickshire.

A guard told passengers: β€œUnfortunately, the cows are sitting quite happily on our side of the track and we can’t move forward.”

A Network Rail spokesman said: β€œAt 5.15pm it was reported to us by a driver of a train that there were two cows near the railway. This is Brandon viaduct, just north of Rugby.

β€œWe’ve got people on site, mobile operation managers, to try and get them off of the railway.

β€œThe situation is ongoing.

β€œTrains are having to go through the area more slowly than normal for safety reasons, so there may be some delays.”