At least one person has died in a light aircraft crash in Staffordshire, which has caused major travel chaos to the Midland railway network.

Officers do not know how many people were aboard the single-engined propellor aircraft which hit power lines between Rugeley and Stafford above the West Coast Main Line shortly before noon.

The accident caused disruption on the major rail route between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly, with train services suspended and replacement buses introduced between Wolverhampton and Crewe, and between Crewe and Rugby.

The crash took place near Colwich Junction, in a field off Meadow Lane, Little Haywood.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said paramedics were at the scene within three minutes but there was nothing they could do to help the occupant. He said: "Crews found the wreckage of a plane between two railway tracks. It had struck the power lines for the railway.

"Sadly there was nothing that could be done and no-one was taken to hospital. It is not known how many people were aboard the single engine aircraft."

A British Transport Policeman spokesman said a member of public reported the light aircraft crashed about midday and that all trains were stopped in the area.

A Network Rail spokesman said: "Overhead electric equipment was brought down and there is debris in the vicinity of the track. Emergency services are securing the site and Network Rail awaits clearance before repairs can be made.

"In the meantime services are not running between Rugby and Stafford. Where possible diversionary routes will be used. Passengers are advised to check with train operators to see how their services may be affected."

Rail operator London Midland, which runs trains from Birmingham to Liverpool and from Crewe to London's Euston station, suspended services around the affected area.

Replacement buses will run between Crewe and Rugby and between Wolverhampton and Crewe.

A London Midland spokesman said the diversions would remain in place for the rest of the day, and could have a knock-on effect into Saturday.

A spokesman for Virgin Trains said the entire West Coast Mainline would remain shut around Stafford until about 2.30pm while overhead power lines were switched off.  After this Virgin services will be diverted via Birmingham and Wolverhampton, adding up to 40 minutes to journey times.

Virgin passengers can use their tickets to travel with other train operators, or postpone their journeys until tomorrow, the spokesman said.