A £6.5 million scheme to restore a distinctive landmark is nearing the end of the line.

Craftsmen are about to begin the final stage of renovation work on the spectacular Ouse Valley railway viaduct at Balcombe, near Haywards Heath.

Project manager Mark Huband said: "It is the Railtrack equivalent of Westminster Abbey."

Each day 15,000 commuters travel across the imposing Victorian structure which supports the main London to Brighton line.

But most have been oblivious to work going on outside as trains speed across at 90mph.

Work began to replace and strengthen crumbling stone and brickwork on the 160-year-old viaduct, which is a Grade II listed building, three years ago.

Since then a team of up to 100 specialist stonemasons, bricklayers and engineers have been painstakingly working their way along the 1,475 ft-long structure.

The restoration has been a massive undertaking for Railtrack.

Work can only be carried out in the spring and summer when there is less chance of high winds and low temperatures to hamper progress.

Scaffolding is now going up around the structure for the final time and work will get under way again in April.

This summer workers will restore the last seven of the viaduct's 37 arches and two turret-like structures on top known as pavilions.

The team have got used to climbing an 11-storey scaffold staircase and working 100ft up in the air, with trains roaring past just inches away behind a safety barrier.

The massive facelift will be complete in September and the scaffolding will at last come down for good.

Railtrack's Mark Huband said: "It is a very significant structure and the restoration has gone very well.

"We have managed to work safely alongside a 90mph railway without causing disruption to trains.

"Villagers from Balcombe have been very enthusiastic about the whole project and very interested."

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