A man was seriously injured when he was struck by a train at Chorley railway station.

The drama unfolded at around 8pm on Sunday when a 36-year-old man from the Euxton area is believed to have fallen on to the tracks as a train left the station.

Police said the man was hit by a slow-moving train which “bent his legs back”. He suffered “serious injuries” to his calves and lower legs.

The man, who had earlier attended the Manchester City v Liverpool football match, was aided by horrified bystanders who saw the stricken man on the tracks when the train cleared the westbound platform.

A Lancashire police spokesman, said: “He was initially helped by two passengers, one of whom was an off-duty fireman.

“Paramedics were called and the man was taken to Royal Preston Hospital for treatment.”

The scene was subsequently handed over to British Transport Police who began an inquiry.

British Transport Police said they had been contacted at 8.04pm on Sunday.

A spokesman said: “It appears the man was somehow on the tracks as a Preston bound train pulled away from Chorley station.

“The train was travelling at a relatively low speed and the driver was unaware that an incident had happened.

“It carried on its journey as normal.

“Witnesses managed to get the man onto the platform and administer first aid before emergency services arrived.”

The man, who has not been named by police, is said to have sustained “serious but not life threatening injuries” and remains in hospital undergoing further treatment.

BTP confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.

A spokesman added: “We would urge all passengers to stand well back from the platform edge and observe all safety messages at railway stations.”