RAIL passengers are facing delays this evening due to a defective track.

Trains for Colchester, Clacton, Braintree, Southend and Southminster could be delayed thanks to a speed restriction over defective track between Brentwood and Harold Wood.

Passengers catching trains to Ipswich, Norwich and Clacton face major disruption until the end of the day.

Passengers catching trains to Braintree, Southend and Southminster face minor disruption.

All lines are now open after an earlier broken down freight train between Colchester and Marks Tey, which blocked all lines.

Network Rail engineers will be working on the track fault overnight to make further repairs to allow the speed restriction to be raised and reduce delays.

A statement on the Greater Anglia website states a normal morning peak service is expected to run on tomorrow morning.

Full repairs to the track defect will be made over the weekend.

Check your journey here.