People with trampolines in gardens are being asked by rail bosses to make sure they don't "go flying" during strong winds.

The plea from Network Rail follows a potentially serious incident during Storm Brendan on Monday.

A trampoline was blown onto the tracks on the busy West Coast main line in Staffordshire.

The incident meant all services on the busy line had to be halted whilst it was cleared.

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It happened on a section of the track at Hixon, between Rugeley and Stone, at about 6am on Monday, January 13.

The item of children's play equipment had been in a garden next to the line but had been blown away during the strong winds.

It flew through the air, onto the tracks and became caught in overhead electric wires, causing a power outage.

Now Network Rail has asked owners of trampolines and other garden equipment to make sure they're securely tethered.

James Dean, director of the West Coast Mainline route, said: "In strong winds trampolines become airborne very easily.

"Our advice is: please tether these kinds of items - that way you won’t lose them and train passengers’ journeys won’t be disrupted.

“We’re appealing to people living by the railway to ensure other items, such as gazebos, marquees and tents are fixed in place, so they don’t end up on the railway during high winds.”

The warning comes as rail bosses warn that strong winds and heavy rain could cause further travel disruption today, Tuesday January 14.

Birmingham New Street station tweeted earlier how some trains could be delayed or disrupted if the wind was too strong.