A TEENAGER who threatened to jump off a railway signal gantry delayed trains by more than an hour.

Emergency services were called to the railway line between Stanford-le-Hope and East Tilbury train stations on Saturday morning, after a 19-year-old man was seen an overhead signal gantry.

The man threatened to jump off the gantry and his stand off with police threw south Essex rail services into chaos.

Officers from Essex Police arrived at the scene about 6.40am and called the British Transport Police, fire service and ambulance services.

While police negotiators spoke to the man, the problem caused a hold up on the c2c line between Shoebury and London Fenchurch Street.

Trains had to be diverted via Basildon and could not call at Stanford-le-Hope, East Tilbury, Tilbury Town, Grays, Chafford Hundred and Ockendon train stations.

A bus service had to pick up passengers from the stations instead and journey times were increased by more than an hour.

A spokeswoman for British Transport Police, said: “Officers were on scene near East Tilbury train station where a man was on an overhead signal gantry.

“The man, aged 19-years-old, was in a very distressed state. Negotiators from Essex Police and officers from the fire brigade and ambulance services were also on scene.

“Rail services in both directions are affected.”

The teenager was eventually talked down at 11.55am, although disruptions to the train service carried on for much of the day.

A spokeswoman for the East of England Ambulance service said the man was left in the hands of police.

She said: “The ambulance service was called at 7.18am to Princess Margaret Road in East Tilbury, and an ambulance rapid response vehicle and manager was sent to the scene.

“Our crews were stood down shortly after noon and the person involved was left in the care of the police.”

The teenager was arrested on suspicion of endangering safety and railway trespass and yesterday he was being held in custody at Basildon police station as he awaited questioning by police.