A TEENAGER who died after being hit by a train in Hampshire has been named.

Officers from Hampshire Constabulary and the British Transport Police were called to the track in the early hours of Tuesday morning after the young man was struck by the train.

Ambulance crews attended, but the 17-year-old - who has been formally named as Joseph Barber - was pronounced dead at the scene.

A British Transport Police spokesman said officers are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragic death at Hinton Admiral station.

“Our officers were called to Hinton Admiral on Tuesday, 23 February following reports of a person struck by a train," she said.

“The call came into police at 12.55am.

“Officers attended the scene alongside paramedics from South Western Ambulance Service. A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The incident is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner. His family has been informed of his death.”

A response car from South Western Ambulance Service attended the scene, along with an ambulance from the South Central Ambulance Service.

 A spokesperson from South Central said: "A call was made by South West Trains.

"The driver thought he had been involved in a collision on the line near Lyndhurst Road. Paramedics attended but nothing could be done."

Residents living in the village spoke of their shock at the news.

One, who didn't want to be named, said: "It's just terrible.

"It's actually happened quite a few times over the years around here. It's such an awful thing to happen."

A number of people have died near Hampshire station in recent years.

In 2013, a 31-year-old man from Highcliffe suffered fatal injuries on the tracks.

Two years before, the body of a man in his 80s was discovered on the line.

In 2008, a 72-year-old man from New Milton died on the main line at Walkford.

In November 2007, a 50-year-old local man was struck and killed by a freight train near the Wyndham Road footbridge and in July of the same year, a 61-year-old Bournemouth man died when he was hit by an express train at Hinton Admiral station.

* Anyone affected by the issues in this article can call the Samaritans on 116 123. The line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week