Rail passengers travelling through Didcot faced delays of up to 90 minutes this morning after lightening struck signalling equipment at Cholsey.

Network Rail said the lightening struck the transformer about 4.30am this morning and the problem is expected to be fixed about 11am.

Bus replacement bus services have been operating from Swindon, to transport passengers to Cheltenham and Oxford.

Ellie Banks, spokesman for First Great Western, said: “The problem occurred at 6am this morning and all services through Reading in and out of London have been affected.

“We have got replacement road transport in place at Swindon - to get people to Cheltenham and at Oxford for people travelling towards Worcester. Delays have been between 30 and 90 minutes and we're doing everything we can to get customers to where they need to go and we thank them for their patience.

The problem should be fixed within the next half hour.