Three people have died after a train derailed in Aberdeenshire amid heavy rain and flooding.

One person is said to be still missing, rail industry sources told the PA news agency, after the ScotRail service crashed near Stonehaven on Wednesday morning.

The sources told PA the suspected cause of the incident is a landslip.

They said the train stopped due to a landslip and moved back along the line when it crashed into another landslip.

The train involved was the 06.38 Aberdeen to Stonehaven, made up of a locomotive and four carriages.

It is understood the locomotive and three carriages derailed and slid down an embankment.

Dozens of emergency service vehicles, including an air ambulance, were called to the scene at around 9.40am.

Unions called the crash a "tragedy" as a major incident was declared at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Responding to the incident the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church Most Rev Mark Strange, said: "We offer our thoughts and prayers for those who have been caught up in the train derailment near Stonehaven. 

"We pray for those who are injured, for those who are struggling with what they have witnessed. We pray for the emergency services and the NHS staff who are working to save lives and to ease pain.

"We pray for local people and for the families of those who were traveling on that train this morning."