Rail services resume after alert

The fire was discovered near a level crossing

A stretch of rail line closed following the discovery of a gas cylinder near a fire has been reopened.

Railtrack shut the Dundee to Aberdeen line between Carnoustie and Arbroath on Friday afternoon as a precaution on the advice of Tayside Fire Brigade.

A spokesman for the rail company said incident took place near the Buckiehillock Farm level crossing.

The line was closed to allow firefighters to douse the acetylene cylinder, which was found near to a pile of burning disused tyres in a yard at Panbride Works, Carnoustie.

A nearby beach was also shut as a precautionary measure and buildings within a 200 metre radius were evacuated.

Fifefighters were able to bring the blaze under control and Tayside Police confirmed that the section of the railway line was reopened on Saturday.

The services affected by the fire included Friday night's Caledonian Sleeper service from London Euston.

ScotRail laid on connecting buses from various stations to Arbroath, where train services to and from Aberdeen were terminating.

A spokeswoman for Tayside Police confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the cause of the fire.