Around £17 million is to be invested in historic railway bridges in Cheshire, Network Rail has announced.

The refurbishment programme aims to protect some of the county's most iconic structures, including the Grade-II listed viaducts at Holmes Chapel and Peover.

Works include removing water stains on the walls, repairing brickwork and waterproofing.

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Engineers will also undertake strengthening work to the Hungerford Road bridge in Crewe, Shipbrook Road bridge in Rudheath and to the Whatcroft underbridge and the Trent and Mersey Canal bridge in Davenham.

The project involves closing the line from Crewe to Manchester and Sandbach to Northwich between 13 – 24 February as improvements take place.

Terry Strickland, area director for Network Rail said: "While the work will cause some disruption to passengers' journeys for 11 days, Network Rail has worked with the train operators to ensure all of this work can be conducted at the same time, saving £500,000 of taxpayers' money and avoiding longer-term disruption."

(LM/MH)