A signalling box at Beeston near Nottingham was hit by lightning during storms on Tuesday night.

Midland Mainline services were rerouted and some Central Trains services to nearby towns were cancelled.

Hourly shuttle services were in operation between Nottingham and Derby with emergency stop-gap buses in operation after initial delays.

There was quite extensive damage to the signalling in the area, we have had engineers on site all night Ben Herbert, Network Rail

Services between Nottingham and the east were generally unaffected, while services to the west were suspended with the exception of the Nottingham-to-Liverpool train.

Train services to and from Lincoln, Cleethorpes and Norwich were also running.

Ben Herbert, from Network Rail said: "There was extensive damage, it was quite a severe storm we had last night.

"There was quite extensive damage to the signalling in the area, we have had engineers on site all night and we hope to have it rectified as soon as possible."

Staff have been operating the signals by hand to get a few services running.

Passengers were advised to check whether their train is running before trying to travel.

Those heading for the capital from the East Midlands were advised to make their own way to Loughborough station which is unaffected by the power failure.

Some London-bound passengers from the East Midlands were diverted through Grantham, Lincolnshire, and onto the East Coast Main Line.

Both Midland Mainline and Central Trains faced criticism for not providing enough alternative transport, such as buses, for commuters.

Extensive delays

Simon Batt, a businessman who commutes from Beeston to Milton Keynes, said: "It's frustrating there are services from Derby, Loughborough and Leicester - I would have expected some buses to be laid on to take passengers there."

However, Anna Strathern, spokesperson for Midland Mainline, said the disruption was so great that it did not have sufficient time to organise alternative transport any earlier.

Meanwhile, two houses have been left badly damaged after being struck by lightning overnight.