A WOMAN who died after she was hit by a train at a crossing in Southend may have been pregnant, it has been revealed.

The victim, in her late twenties, was found dead near the footpath, which runs from Woodgrange Close to Pilgrims Close and crosses the rail line.

Trains were suspended between Southend Central and Shoebury following the incident just after 9.30am yesterday.

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Services began again at around 1.20pm.

Woodgrange Close and Pilgrims Close, on either end of the paths leading to the crossings, were closed off while emergency services were at the scene.

Dom Gasper, 24, of Woodgrange Close, said: “I heard the train give a really long blast of its horn then I didn’t hear anything else until we saw the ambulances arrive.”

His grandfather Chris Gasper, 70, said: “It’s a very popular cut through with a lot of people including schoolchildren.”

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His wife Sue Gasper, 69, said: “They’ve made it safer than it used to be. They’ve cut a lot of the trees back and you can see quite far.

“It’s such a tragedy to hear of something like this.”

Another Woodgrange Close resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: “There were police and ambulance crews all along the road.

“I couldn’t really bear to see what they were doing. I’m just thinking of what a poor Christmas some family is going to have.

“I feel sorry for the train driver too, knowing that something like that has happened.”

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Officers are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“A file will be prepared for the coroner.”

A spokesman for rail operator c2c said: “We apologise to customers who were delayed after a fatality near Southend East station this morning.

“Thirty-five trains were delayed or cancelled, with services suspended between Shoebury and Southend Central until around 1pm. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident.”