Network Rail workers have set a track-laying record as a project to develop a new rail-over-rail flyover in Stafford enters its final stages.

As part of the rail company's Railway Upgrade Plan, workers are developing the new structure at Norton Bridge.

The £250 million project will remove a 'major' bottleneck on the West Coast mainline.

However, Staffordshire Alliance firms Atkins, Laing O'Rourke and Volker Rail broke through the 4km barrier to lay 4,017 metres last weekend.

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Previously, the track laying record in a 48-hour period was 3,932 metres.

Teams worked through the weekend using two new track-construction machines.

Overall, a total of 11 new bridges have been built with six miles of new track and a new 1.2km section of road.

In addition, four river diversions have been developed with over one million tonnes of earth moved.

Staffordshire Alliance Manager, Matt Clark, said: "This is another massive milestone for the project that has been achieved on programme, with the whole Alliance team pulling together to deliver an exceptional amount of earthworks and track in a very short space of time.  We are all now focussed on the completion of the remainder of this Railway Upgrade Plan project that will remove a major bottle neck on the WCML, which will be great news for passengers."

The new rail-over-rail flyover set to be commissioned at Easter 2016 at Norton Bridge.

(LM/CD)