RAIL passengers travelling to Hereford were told to alight in Malvern because of an accident in Droitwich.

Customers on the London Midland service, many of whom had started their journey in Birmingham, finally arrived in Hereford more than an hour later than expected.

Problems began yesterday afternoon when a vehicle was in collision with a bridge near Droitwich.

This led to delays but passengers were shocked to be told that, having finally got through Worcester, they would need to leave the 15.49 service at Great Malvern and wait for the next train to take them to Hereford.

Their mood was not improved when this train was also late.

Jed Burgess, from London Midland, said when trains are running excessively late they can be stopped at Great Malvern.

This was, he said, because they do not want late trains to block the single track running between Hereford and Ledbury and create further problems.

Rail passengers, commenting on the Hereford Times Facebook page, said they were not surprised to hear of the problem.

Jane Symonds said: "They do this so often. Nothing wrong with the money we pay them, everything wrong with the service" while David Allen claimed he had been told to leave the train twice "because the driver would have gone over his hours".

Elizabeth Newman, meanwhile, urged delayed rail customers to stay on the train in protest should a similar situation arise.

"Have a sit in," she said. "Do not get off and they will relent and bring the train onto Hereford."

London Midland said delayed customers could apply for a refund at http://www.londonmidland.com/contact-us/contact-us/delay-repay/