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At least 60 people have been injured after a train crashed into a tree which fell onto tracks during violent storms near Montpellier, France.

The train crashed during violent storms near Montpellier and at least 10 people are said to have been seriously hurt.

The regional TER train crashed between Baillargues and Castelnau-le-Lez and eye-witnesses reported seeing more than 10 ambulances and dozens of paramedics at the scene.

Pictures taken by passengers at the scene show extensive damage to at least one carriage and broken glass strewn across the floor.

(Image: @aurore_sch/Twitter)

(Image: @KrysFuller/Twitter)

The train is believed to have been travelling at 90mph when it crashed.

One passenger said: "We thought that the train derailed and we would not get out alive, we were very afraid."

Several hundred passengers were evacuated from the train.

The train does not appear to have derailed but passengers are reported to have been thrown from their seats following the impact at around 3.45pm local time (2.45pm UK time).

(Image: @KrysFuller/Twitter)

(Image: @RDEHULLESSEN/Twitter)

A spokesman for the train company said: "At around 3.45pm a TER train travelling at around 140km/h crashed into a fallen tree during unusually violent storms in the region.

"Firefighters and the police are on site, access is very complicated, especially because of the large hail."

Services on the line in the south of France have been cancelled in both directions as an emergency mission gets underway.

The region has been battered by violent hailstorms today.