RAIL passengers travelling between Poole and Wareham over the Easter bank holiday are being reminded replacement buses will be in operation.

Network Rail is using the bank holiday weekend, and the following weekend of April 22 & 23, to carry out a £1m upgrade to the railway's sea defences in Holes Bay, Poole Harbour.

Becky Lumlock, Network Rail route managing director, said: "The work at Holes Bay is a key part of our railway upgrade plan, which is making sure that we continue to provide passengers with a safe, reliable and resilient railway.

"While there’s never a good time to close the railway, bank holiday weekends provide us with an extended period to get significant pieces of work done, such as at Holes Bay, when passenger numbers drop by up to 50per cent.

"I'd like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out our work and remind them to check their journeys in advance to see how they may be affected."

While the bus replacement service is in operation, from Good Friday up to and including Easter Monday, there will also be a revised rail service between Poole and Waterloo, and between Wareham and Weymouth.