South West Trains (SWT) has urged rail passengers to avoid travelling to or from London Waterloo following “a signal failure and an operational incident”, while images on social media appear to show a derailed train.

Some social media users have claimed ambulance and fire crews were at the scene, but this remains unconfirmed.

Tickets are being accepted on all Transport for London (TfL) buses and all services to London Paddington and London Victoria.

Network Rail said the train partly left the tracks when it was leaving the station at 5.40am.

London Ambulance Service confirmed it had checked over three people, adding: "Thankfully they did not need to go to hospital."