Police have confirmed that the person fatally struck by a train yesterday just outside Exeter was a Devon man in his 60s.

Paramedics and police were called to reports of a casualty on the tracks at 11.36am in Stoke Canon, just outside the city.

British Transport Police later confirmed that the casualty had died and their next of kin have been informed.

A spokesperson today confirmed that the deceased was a man in his 60s from Mid Devon.

"It was a man in his 60s and his next of kin have been informed," they said.

The incident led to severe disruption to a number of train lines yesterday.

National Rail Enquires confirmed that emergency services were dealing with the incident, and that trains between Exeter St Davids and Taunton were being affected.

That included CrossCountry trains between Penzance and Glasgow Central/Dundee, Plymouth and Newcastle, and also between Paignton and Manchester Piccadilly.

Great Western Railway trains between Penzance/Paignton and London Paddington were also affected.

The 06.45 service from York to Plymouth was cancelled between Tiverton Parkway and Plymouth due to the incident. 

A police statement released yesterday said: "Officers were called to the lines in Stoke Canon at 11.36am following reports of a casualty on the tracks.

"Paramedics also attended but sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Officers are currently working to identify them and inform their family.

"The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner."

A number of lines remained closed until around 1pm.

Even after reopening, delays were reported well into the afternoon as services returned to normal.

It is the second time in a little more than a week that someone has been hit by a train in the area.

Last Monday, a 60-year-old man was killed after being hit by a train in Exeter.

Emergency services were called to the scene near to The Double Locks Pub just after 5pm on Monday which saw the railway line between Exeter and Newton Abbot closed.

Police, paramedics and the air ambulance all attended, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.