Swindon trains running to and from Cheltenham Festival have been cancelled after a person has died on the railway line.

Emergency services were called to the tracks near Gloucester Railway Station just before 7am on Wednesday morning (March 13) following reports of a serious incident.

National Rail announced shortly afterwards that disruption was expected to train services running between Swindon and Gloucester, including those set to take passengers to Cheltenham Festival today.

Many services were cancelled and replacement buses were put in place to deal with the disruption.

Four hours later, the British Transport Police confirmed that a person had died.

"British Transport Police received a report shortly before 6.50am today (13 March) to a casualty on the tracks near Gloucester Railway Station," said a spokesperson for the BTP.

"Paramedics also attended however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The incident is being investigated but is not thought to be suspicious."