Victorian railway viaduct works almost finished

Engineers have said they expect to complete the works in January

A restoration project to return a 175-year-old railway viaduct to its former structure is nearing completion.

Yarm Viaduct was built by the Victorians and carries trains across the River Tees.

Network Rail started a major programme of repairs - costing £8.2m - last year to strengthen 14 piers along its 600m (2,000ft) expanse.

Engineers said they expect to complete the works in January.

The Victorians used more than seven and a half million bricks to build the viaduct

In 1848, the structure had to be hauled into position by teams of horses and a pulley system and was completed in 1852.

Designed by Thomas Grainger and John Bourne of Edinburgh, more than seven and a half million bricks went into the building of the viaduct.

Wooden sleepers and piles were used to build it, which have been replaced with steel and concrete.

Jonathan Calvert, of Network Rail, said: "This beautiful Victorian structure needed some preventative work and future proofing by doing some concreting and piling works underneath.

"This will shore everything up and make sure it stays fit for purpose."

Alan Deighton, of contractor Amco, said: "It's been an interesting job, especially with it being a Grade II listed structure and all the challenges we had to overcome."

The viaduct, which has 43 arches, remains an important route for freight and passenger services, including Grand Central trains to London and the Transpennine Express.

Network Rail said the restoration would safeguard the railway for years to come.