Commuters hurt as Tube part falls off

Three Tube commuters were injured in a freak accident when they were struck by part of a train which had broken free.

They were waiting on the platform at Mile End station in east London when they were hit by a thick vinyl sheet hanging from a Central line train leaving the station.

Two women, aged 17 and 37, were treated in hospital for cuts and bruising to the face and head.

They were discharged the same day, though one suffered a cut which needed stitching.

The train had not picked up speed, which prevented the injuries from being worse.

The vinyl sheet is part of a barrier which is hung between carriages to prevent people falling onto the line and also to stop train surfing.