A gas leak near Charing Cross Station this morning has seen the station close and Southeastern cancelling trains.

The leak has been stopped, but emergency services have put an exclusion zone in place which includes the railway station.

As a result of this, trains are currently unable to run to Charing Cross.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "Charing Cross station is currently closed owing to a gas leak in a nearby road.

"We will reopen the station as soon as we have clearance from emergency services that it is safe to do so. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused."

Routes between Charing Cross and Gravesend / Dartford / Ramsgate / Sevenoaks / Gillingham / Hayes / Tunbridge Wells / Orpington have all been affected by the incident as Southeastern have said that trains may be cancelled, delayed or diverted.

Around 1,450 people have been evacuated from a nearby hotel and a nightclub.

London Fire Brigade station manager Brett Loft said: “This is a large gas leak in the street and as appreciation we’ve evacuated people and Charing Cross Station is closed. Commuters are advised to find alternative route and The Strand is closed.

"Gas engineers are working on isolating the leak and we'd asked people to avoid the area if possible."

Passengers can check how their journeys will be affected at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

A normal service is expected to resume by midday today.