A signalling fault has caused long delays across the Tyne and Wear Metro this morning as the operator warns travellers to expect disruption.

The “signalling issue” originated in the Percy Main area which has meant no trains are able to run in either direction between Wallsend and North Shields.

Commuters are now warned to expect delays of up to twenty minutes across the whole Metro system as the cause of the fault and the time it will be fixed remain unknown.

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Tyne and Wear Metro confirmed the news on Twitter.

They said: “Due to a signalling issue in the Percy Main area no trains are running in either direction between Wallsend - North Shields.

“Trains are running to all other destinations, however due to the issues at Howdon some trains have been unable to depart the depot.

“This has created delays of between 15-20 minutes systemwide.”

Metro tickets are being accepted on Stagecoach number 317, Go North East’s numbers 1, 2107 and 309 as well as Arriva’s 306.

UPDATE: Nexus has now confirmed that the signalling faults have now been fixed, and services are returning back to normal.

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