The MML driver asked passengers for sticky tape

The Midland Mainline (MML) train from London St Pancras to Nottingham ground to a halt south of Leicester.

A call for sticky tape went out when an exterior air pipe came loose and the driver tried to fix it himself, the train company confirmed on Tuesday.

A spokeswoman said it had been a serious request, but the work on the engine was not "safety critical".

However, there was no response from passengers and a fitter had to go to the site to carry out work.

'Good idea'

The MML spokeswoman said: "The driver made an attempt to refit the pipe so he could get the train moved, but he was unable to do that.

"He had been liaising with our control department and we had a fitter on the way to the train.

"To make it to the next station he thought it might be a good idea to see if any passengers had anything which could seal the pipe."

The train was delayed for 90 minutes before it finally terminated its journey early in Leicester on Saturday afternoon.