A helium balloon tangled up in 25,000-volt overhead electric cables caused rail delays today for thousands of train passengers in Manchester.
The incident has prompted an urgent warning from Network Rail.
They said that 'while helium balloons are fun, they pose a real safety and performance risk to the railway'.
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Images released by the organisation show the large foil balloon caught in cables, with the Beetham Tower in the background.
Network Rail said the cables power trains across Manchester city centre.
In a statement, bosses issued a 'safety plea to the public' to not let helium balloons loose near the railway.
Rush-hour trains between Manchester Oxford Road and Warrington Central stations were hit by delays as a result as engineers worked to free the balloon.
The line - one of the busiest in the region - was closed and the electricity supply switched off.
Network Rail said: "The foil balloon got caught on the high-voltage overhead wires this morning, Monday, delaying trains travelling between Manchester Oxford Road and Warrington Central.
"Engineers had to close the line and switch off the electricity which powers trains through one of the busiest railway corridors in the country so the balloon could be safely removed."
Phil James, Network Rail's North West route director, said: "While helium balloons are fun, they pose a real safety and performance risk to the railway.
"Fortunately our engineers quickly removed this balloon before it could seriously delay passengers and freight.
"Please keep helium balloons away from the railway.”
Helium-filled balloons causes dozens of train delays for passengers across Britain each year, Network Rail said.
More than 600 balloon-related incidents across England, Scotland and Wales have been recorded over the last 10 years.
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