A RAIL company is cancelling certain trains from today to prepare for the opening of the Metro extension in the North-East.

To allow for work on the Metro extension to Sunderland, due to open on March 31, trains will not run between Newcastle, Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, via the Durham coast route, on the evenings of Monday to Friday next week, after 6.20pm from Newcastle and after 7pm from Sunderland.

They will be cancelled between Newcastle, Sunderland and Seaham all day from Monday, March 25, to Friday, March 29; on Saturdays including today, March 23 and 30, and on Sundays including tomorrow and March 24.

Replacement bus services will be provided at all times, but passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys.

A spokesman for Nexus said: "The cancellations are unavoidable as they are needed to complete work and training on this multi-million pound project."

For more details, pick up leaflets from Nexus Travelshops or Rail Travelcentres, see posters in railway stations or ring Traveline on 0870 608 2608