Six Southeastern services were cancelled after suspected bedbugs were spotted 'crawling between seats' on trains between Kent and London

An internal email revealed that a driver in the Hastings crew room had found three suspected bedbugs on a poster next to a train door. A member of Kent Integrated Control Centre staff, off duty at the time, described an 'infestation', and the City Beam train was taken out of service at Dartford. Southeastern says its inspectors found no bedbugs in passenger areas, and that the photographs depicted other insects.

The only confirmed cases dated from September, when bedbugs turned up in drivers' cabs.

One driver asked for a hazmat suit, and when none was provided two services were cancelled.

Union chief Maryam Eslamdoust said passengers 'should not have to worry about taking bedbugs home'.