RAIL travellers heading to London from the North-East are being warned that journey times will take longer due to engineering work.

Network Rail is replacing points on the East Coast Main Line at Welwyn Garden City, which will have a knock on effect on services between Kings Cross and the North-East.

The work, due to be carried out over Christmas and New Year, is part of a £12m investment to rebuild the railway.

Passengers have been warned that the works will add an extra 20 minutes to journey times.

Work will begin at 10.40pm tomorrow and continue until 4am on Monday.

The remainder of the work will be carried out at weekends only from January 10, to March 22.

On Saturday and Sunday, services from King's Cross to Peterborough and the North-East will be diverted via the Hertford loop.

A bus replacement service will operate between Potters Bar and Stevenage and Hertford North and Stevenage.

For further information, passengers should contact National Rail inquiries on 08457 484950.