THE police helicopter, a drone search unit, and emergency services were deployed to Cuddington.

Officers from Cheshire and British Transport Police were responding to reports of kids on the railway line around Cuddington station at 8.15pm on Saturday, March 30.

Services towards both Manchester and Chester were suspended while the helicopter and a drone search unit swept the area.

Residents reported a large emergency service presence in the area, including temporary road closures.

Network Rail warned passengers trains were unlikely to resume until Easter Sunday, however police later said normal services returned later in the evening.

Cheshire Police’s force incident manager, Inspector Mark Woollam, said: "At 8.15pm on Saturday, March 30, police received a report of children on the railway tracks at Cuddington Railway station.

“Trains were stopped running on the line whilst officers from Cheshire Constabulary and British Transport Police completed a search of the area, assisted by the Cheshire Constabulary drone unit and the police helicopter.

“The search proved negative and normal service was later restored to the line."