A young man has been taken to hospital after being smashed across the head with a glass bottle in front of commuters and shoppers at Ilford train station.

A fight broke out between “four or five” young men in front of the Cranbrook Road entrance to the station at 6pm as people made their way home.

A British Transport Police (BTP) officer at the scene this evening confirmed a young man had been taken to hospital and it is believed he had been struck by a glass bottle.

The officer said the man had suffered a head injury which is not thought to be life-threatening.

His age or other details about him weren’t known at this time.

The officer also thought arrests had been made, but was unable to confirm the details.

Broken glass was found on the pavement in front of the station.

The officer said the group involved in the fight was made up of men in their late teens.

The Cranbrook Road entrance to the station was closed and taped off at around 6.15pm and remained closed at 8.30pm, with police officers studying CCTV footage as part of their investigation.

They hoped to reopen the entrance “as quickly” as possible, with the York Road entrance and exit remaining in use.

The BTP officer said: “We don’t know what it was over.

“Our investigation is ongoing.

“It was busy with commuters and local shoppers.

“I don’t think they were involved in it.”

@Zay118x said: “Loads of police cars and ambulances outside ilford station and ilford station is closed ? #scary #ilfordstation”

And @tenaciouspenny said: “Glad I’m running late. There’s a young man in a pool of blood being tended to by police at #Ilford station. Would’ve been caught in it.”

Rafi Niazi, 21, who works at Khan Communication, a mobile phone shop, close to the scene, said: “I saw the police and ambulance.

“Before that, I don’t know what was happening.

“It’s not new for this area.

“Always, it happens there. It’s normal for Ilford.”

More details to follow.