No trains to stop at station due to dry weather

Clay embankments have dried out and disturbed the levels of the railway tracks

Trains will no longer stop at a Somerset railway station after dry weather changed the levels of the tracks.

A speed restriction had previously been introduced for trains using a four-mile stretch of the railway line at Crewkerne after clay embankments dried out and disturbed the tracks.

Network Rail and South Western Rail (SWR) have now announced no trains will operate from Crewkerne Station from Monday.

Rail replacement buses will instead take people to connecting trains at Yeovil Junction and Axminster until further notice.

Tom McNamee from Network Rail said repeated delays in the Crewkerne area can lead to widespread cancellations and gaps in services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids.

"We have carefully studied the impact and unfortunately it will not be possible to operate a safe and reliable timetable while calling at Crewkerne," he added.

SWR and Network Rail warned additional restrictions and timetable changes are likely to be necessary on the line between Salisbury and Axminster over the summer as dry weather continues.

"We will continue to carefully monitor [soil moisture levels] and give customers as much notice as possible," Mr McNamee said.