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Rush hour commuters were asked to push a tram packed with passengers after a technical fault left it unable to move.

It happened on Greater Manchester's Metrolink network at Brooklands station in Sale earlier.

Passengers were asked to push the side of the tram to help close its doors, activating a mechanism allowing the vehicle to pull away.

Metrolink later thanked customers for "rolling up their sleeves to help keep Greater Manchester moving".

A spokesman for Transport for Greater Manchester explained how the technical fault occurred.

"Because our network is 100% accessible to allow for wheelchair and pushchair access there is only a very small gap between the tram and the platform," he said.

"One of the downsides to this is that if the tram or the track is out by only a few millimetres we can, on very rare occasions, have problems with the doors of a fully loaded tram opening or closing, as happened today.

"As a precautionary measure the operator is now checking the vehicle and track to ensure the correct gap is available."

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One passenger said the tram was stuck at the stop for about five minutes.

"I thought it was nice of people to help, but also kind of sad that this is our transport system. I don't want the driver to get in trouble," he said.

"I feel for the drivers. It's a pretty badly run service."