Rail travellers in Sussex are being warned to expect disruption over the festive season.

There will be 12 days of temporary timetables and cancellations due to engineering works.

From Christmas Eve until January 5, engineers will undertake track renewal programmes, which also involves major work at Clapham Junction, Europe's busiest railway station.

Extensive work is also being carried out during the two-day shutdown of the Brighton main line on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

There will be no trains on Britain's rail network on Christmas Day and only a few on Boxing Day.

There will be a service between Victoria and East Croydon on Boxing Day but no services to Sussex.

Network Rail is taking advantage of the Christmas and New Year break when fewer people travel to undertake vital maintenance and improvements.

While families are enjoying Christmas at home, rail engineers will be working in a bid to secure a betterperforming railway.

The Christmas and New Year shutdown begins mid evening on Christmas Eve in preparation for the closure of the entire network at 10pm.

Lines to Sussex are scheduled to reopen early on Saturday, December 27, with a Sunday service but passengers may have to change trains to reach London.

There will be a normal Sunday service with some interruptions on December 28, followed by an enhanced Saturday service until January 5.

Marsid Greenidge, spokesman for South Central said: "This year, as in previous years, there will be a reduced timetable because fewer people travel over Christmas and New Year.

"Network Rail is taking advantage of this period to get vital engineering work done."

The main Sussex rail companies will be officially announcing their detailed Christmas and New Year timetables in the coming weeks.