A WOMAN punched a railway guard in the face after she refused to let her on a train.

The female guard suffered facial injuries and a train was halted at Christchurch station for 20 minutes as a result of the incident.

British Transport Police officers were called to the station at 1.50pm yesterday (Mon) and have now appealed for help in tracing the offender.

A spokesman said: "It is believed a woman punched a member of staff in the face and verbally abused her after she refused to let the woman on the train. The member of staff was left with minor facial injuries."

The offender is described as white, around 5ft 5ins tall, slim, with blue eyes and long blonde hair. She was wearing a green Puffa jacket, dark-grey tracksuit bottoms and black trainers.

A South Western Railway spokesperson said: "We can confirm that an incident occurred on board the 11.05 South Western Railway Waterloo to Weymouth service in the Christchurch area earlier today.

"The train was held at Christchurch station for approximately 20 minutes while British Transport Police dealt with the incident. The train continued in service for the rest of the journey."

Anyone with information should call 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting incident number 286 of October 15.