Sleepy High Wycombe residents were left baffled by strange noises that woke them up in the middle of the night.
A loud metal banging sound left those who were sleeping soundly confused at around 2am this morning (Wednesday).
Some bewildered residents had no idea what the noise, which was said to be echoing around the town, was - but those who live near the railway had a better idea.
Apparently the noise was being made by a Network Rail 'tamper' - a railway track maintenance machine.
According to the Network Rail website, tamping machines "restore the line and level of the track". It reads: "They insert large tools called tines into the ballast – the stones beneath the track – and then force the tines together to move ballast under the sleepers.
"The tamping machine moves additional ballast under the sleepers to raise the height of the track and can move the track sideways if required."
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One resident questioned Network Rail on Twitter about the noise, saying: "Were there works on the high wycombe line last night/this morning about 3am?
"People reporting the sound of metal being hit and alarm going off, slow moving train? Apparently someone reported the noise to the police."
Network Rail apologised for the disruption - but it's bad news for those living near the line, as the work is expected to continue all week until Friday, finishing daily at around 4.30am.
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