HUNDREDS of Hampshire commuters were caught up in travel chaos last night after a man trespassing on railway lines brought trains to a halt at a major London station.

Tens of thousands of people packed the platforms at Waterloo at the height of the Friday night rush-hour.

Trains were running again by 7.30pm but South West Trains was warning its passengers to expect delays up to 10pm because of the huge backlog.

Passengers were being advised to find alternative routes or methods of transport where possible.

Some on social media were reporting frustration among the stranded passengers and even some fights breaking out.

Waterloo is the main terminus for services to and from Southampton and other major Hampshire stations including Winchester.

Station staff had to turn off the power to all lines leading out of the station to prevent the man from being electrocuted and allow British Transport Police to follow him on to the tracks.

Photographs of the incident emerged on social media last night showing a man wearing a white bandana and dressed in white T-shirt, shorts, socks and shoes and sporting a black bum bag. He was shown gesticulating at officers.

British Transport Police last night confirmed that a man had been arrested within 40 minutes of the incident.

A spokesman said: “Our officers were called to Waterloo station at 4.40pm on Friday, 27 June, after reports of a man trespassing on the line.

“Our officers attended alongside colleagues from the London Ambulance Service.

“A man was detained under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for assessment.”