Passengers were forced to open train doors and one jumped onto the tracks when they thought a train had been hijacked.

A First Capital Connect train from London Bridge was Sutton-bound on Wednesday night when passengers pulled the emergency cord near the platform in West Croydon and forced the doors open.

Passengers screamed at staff on another platform,, telling them the train "had been hijacked".

James Peterson, 27, from Tulse Hill, was on board.

He said: "People were forcing doors open on both sides of the train while other trains were flying past. It was ridiculous, and not particularly safe."

Passengers were "kept in the dark" throughout the journey according to Mr Peterson, and were only told what was going on after many of their stations had already been passed.

Mr Paterson said: "It was the last train of the night so people were anxious to get home. One man had had enough and walked down the tracks to West Croydon.

"The driver actually came down the train and tried to stop people getting off. He thought it was a bit of a joke, but people thought they were stranded."

A spokesman for First Capital Connect said: "We are sorry to hear about Mr Petersen's experience. Our customers should expect the very best level of service.

"A broken down train at Peckham Rye was blocking our train's route to every intermediate station to Sutton.

"We do not control the information that is posted at London Bridge but the driver maintains he made two announcements in the station, one of them shortly before leaving, that his train was diverted via West Croydon and would run fast to its final destination of Sutton.

"From there it would have been able to run in a reverse direction to all the stations that the passengers on board wanted to reach. This course of action was thwarted by the passenger alarm being activated."

Mr Peterson said: "If I thought I had got on the wrong train I would have been embarrassed at my own stupidity, I certainly wouldn't be publicising it, but we were not told what was going on."