A naked man who was sunbathing near to train tracks was mistaken for a dead body by police officers.

Worried Network Rail workers raised the alarm and called police after spotting what they described as a pair of feet and "no signs of life" in the grounds of Chafford Hundred Train Station, British Transport Police said.

It happened on Monday as the sunny weather continued, and temperatures hit reached 25C (77F).

In a tweet, BTP said: "Rushing to the scene, officers found a man in his late 30s enjoying some nude sunbathing.

"Please don't sunbathe nude on the railway."

 

A spokeswoman for Network Rail said: "Let me lay it bare, the railway is not a place to sunbathe. Please keep away from the tracks."

A spokeswoman for rail operator c2c, declined to comment but said there had been similar episodes of nude sunbathers in the past.

"It is not as uncommon as you might think." the spokesman added.

A BTP spokesman said the report was made at about 1pm on Monday in London Road, West Thurrock and "words of advice were given about the dangers of the railway".