A woman has been seriously injured after she asked two youths to stop smoking at a Kent railway station - and was thrown on to the tracks in response.

British Transport Police said the woman was lucky not to be instantly killed because the "live" rail was carrying 750 volts of electricity.

She suffered burns and a suspected broken collar bone when hitting the tracks and was rushed to hospital.

The woman was on her way to work during the morning rush hour when she was assaulted at Farningham Road station by the youths.

Detective Inspector Bob Richardson, of the BTP, said: "It would appear the woman had spoken to the men about smoking earlier this week.

"This morning when she was at the station, she was walking past the same men when one of them pushed her and she fell onto the track.

"She suffered a fractured wrist and bruising to her legs. She was taken to hospital for treatment but has since been released.

"The woman was very lucky she was not more seriously injured. The third rail carries 750 volts of electricity and she could have been electrocuted or even struck by an early morning train."

Southeastern train services between Kent and London were disrupted because the live rail had to be turned off.

The train company said the woman was rescued by fellow passengers after the attack.

A Southeastern spokesman said: "We are appalled by this incident and hope the perpetrators are quickly identified."

Police are investigating the incident, which was caught on CCTV, and were said to be following up a number of leads.