Virgin Trains East Coast is among the worst performing rail companies when it comes to punctuality, a survey has revealed.

According to the Press Association, 2.6 per cent of its trains were between 30 minutes and two hours late, the third worst in the country.

The worst company was the Caledonian Sleeper with 3.7 per cent followed by First Hull Trains with 2.7 per cent.

From July to September last year, 5,250 trains across the country were significantly late, an average of 57 per day.

The figures, taken from Office of Rail and Road data, do not include trains that were more than two hours late.

A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, representing train operating companies and Network Rail said they were working hard together to improve train punctuality and information to passengers when things go wrong.

"The rail industry has cut the number of incidents causing delays every year, but a busier network means that incidents can have a greater knock-on effect," he said.