An investigation was launched today after a body was found on a railway line.

Train services were cancelled between Leeds and Skipton as police began making their inquiries into the corpse found at Shipley.

Officers are unable to say how the body got onto the line.

They have also so far been unable to determine whether there were any suspicious circumstances.

The body was discovered on the railway line near Shipley by the driver of a freight train who spotted it close to the entrance to Thackley tunnel at about 5.30am.

Arriva Trains Northern services between Leeds and Skipton were immediately suspended as British Transport Police investigators made their inquiries.

An ambulance was called to the scene and took the body - which had suffered severe multiple injuries - to the mortuary at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Sgt Neil Hubbs, from British Transport Police, said his officers were trying to establish how the body got onto the line.

And he confirmed they could not rule out suspicious causes at such an early stage.

"Usually a train driver may see a person approach the line before the collision," he said.

"But in this case the body was discovered and we do not know what happened before. That is what we are trying to establish."

He said he did not know how long the body had been on the line.

Joanne Granville, an Arriva Trains spokesman, said buses were laid on between Leeds and Shipley until the line was reopened at about 7.30am.

She said: "We apologise for the inconvenience to our customers."

Sgt Hubbs appealed for any witnesses to contact police on 08700 005151 quoting log number 34.