RAIL passengers travelling into Worcester this morning found themselves stranded at Great Malvern station because of engineering works just south of the city.

The work, which was carried out by Network Rail at the Henwick junction, was supposed to be completed by around 5am.

However it was not finished until around 6.30am, which meant that three services - the 5.30am, 5.50am, and 6.17am - were cancelled.

Commuter Jim Collins, who was among those left standing on the platform, said there was one couple heading off on their holiday worried that they would miss their flight, a man with his two children who was travelling to York, as well as dozens of people trying to go to work.

The Worcester News journalist said: "Everyone was throwing up their hands in despair, wondering what they could do."

The work began on Saturday at 11.30pm and involved relaying tracks, replacing steel sleepers supporting the track and packing stone chipping around the track to hold it in place.

A spokesman for Central Trains said passengers would be compensated depending on what type of ticket they had bought.

"We have to pay the Government a fine for cancelled or late trains. We'll recover this cost from Network Rail."

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "We have staffing problems down there." On Saturday, July 2, the 8.12am Great Western train from Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington was cancelled on one of the busiest days for passengers wanting to travel to the capital, with the Live 8 concert, Gay Pride rally and the women's Wimbledon final.

A Great Western spokes-man said: "They were unable to lock the door, so they couldn't continue for health and safety reasons.

"Customers will be able to get a refund as it was delayed for over an hour."