A PANICKED rail passenger dialled 999 last night when they saw jets of flame coming from under the train.

But incredibly it is understood the driver of the First Transpennine Express Train continued on his journey from Slaithwaite, thinking he had extinguished the fire by turning off the affected engine.

Passengers were forced to alert the driver by banging on his cab as many were forced to flee from the second and third carriages which started filling with smoke.

Fire crews responding to the 999 call, which was made at 11.10pm, arrived at Slaithwaite to find the train had continued and were forced to divert back to Huddersfield.

When the train arrived in Huddersfield passengers, many panicked, alighted the train, which was treated by fire crews from Huddersfield, Marsden and Slaithwaite.

The fire was still alight under the train and crews used eight foam extinguishers and the train's own specialist system to bring the situation under control.