Woman tells of rail attack ordeal

Victim Linda Buchanan speaks about her ordeal at the station

A woman pushed on to rail tracks by two men she had told to stop smoking says she feels "really lucky" to be alive.

Linda Buchanan, 58, landed inches away from the 750-volt live third rail at Farningham Road station in Kent and suffered a broken wrist.

She told BBC News: "I am still shocked by the whole experience. It could have been a lot worse."

Det Insp Bob Richardson said it appeared she had spoken to the two men about smoking earlier in the week.

He said she walked along the London-bound platform and was pushed onto the line as she passed the men at 0700 BST on Wednesday.

The woman was pushed and fell on to the tracks, police said

She was taken to hospital and released after treatment, he added.

Det Insp Richardson said: "She was very lucky she was not more seriously injured."

Police were looking into a number of leads and were viewing CCTV from the station, he said.

A statement from rail operator Southeastern said: "This is clearly a serious situation and our concern is for the woman at this time."

Fellow commuters pulled her from the tracks.

Train services between Kent and London were disrupted during the morning rush hour because the power had to be turned off.

Det Ch Insp Gareth Williams describes the incident as "very dangerous"

One of the men was described as white, in his mid 20s, and about 6ft, with a stocky build. He had short cropped brown hair and was wearing beige shorts, a green round-necked T-shirt and trainers.

The other man was white and in his early 20s with a medium build, bright red shorts and a dark top.

Officers are trying to establish what the men did after the attack.