PASSENGERS have been evacuated from an Alton-bound train after a man onboard was seen carrying a gun.

The incident happened in the Monday morning rush-hour when passengers were told to "run off the platform" when the London Waterloo service arrived at Woking station.

Simon Bangs, who was on the train at the time, said passengers initially thought there was a bomb or a grenade on board, adding "there was a bit of panic" after police told them to "get off and run away".

Mr Bangs, 30, from Woking, posted online: "Was crazy. Was on the train, a ton of staff and armed police barge in tell us to run as fast as we can down the train out onto the platform and out of the station."

It later transpired that the panic had been caused by a man carrying an air rifle in a bag, and British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed a 53-year-old man was arrested following the incident. It is not known what he has been arrested on suspicion of.

The station was more crowded than usual, coinciding with the first day of a 27-day strike by South Western Railway staff in a dispute over the role of guards.

Surrey Police said there was no ongoing risk to the public.