AN MP has called for an immediate investigation after passengers were locked in Oxenholme station.

The passengers were left locked in the station following the arrival of the delayed Avanti West Coast service from London Euston last night.

Tim Farron, the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, said that the situation occurred as a result of Avanti informing its staff that they were able to leave the station without taking action to enable passengers on the last, delayed train to leave the station safely.

Speaking this morning, Tim called the situation an “unacceptable farce”.

As can be seen in some photos, some passengers took to climbing the 7-foot spiked gates and fences surrounding the station in order to get out. There was the concern that passengers would be forced to cross the live tracks to find an alternative route out of the station.

Mr Farron said: "What happened last night could have very quickly become dangerous and I have already written to Avanti to demand an explanation for their oversight."

Avanti West Coast has not yet responded to Mr Farron's claims. Photos were posted online of passengers climbing over the fence at Oxenholme station and there were social media reports of the incident from passengers.