Work is continuing on a £23 million railway line reinstatement project between Settle and Carlisle.

Network Rail engineers are working to repair the historic railway after around half a-million tonnes of earth gave way beneath the ground in February 2016.

Workers have now started driving two rows of high-strength piles - steel tubes filled with concrete – into the sloping bedrock of the Eden gorge, north of Armathwaite – to stabilise the route.

Around 3,000 tonnes of concrete will be used for this phase, along with 2,000 metres of iron casting, ahead of the projects completion date on 31 March.

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Once the line is reopened, Network Rail plans to carry out earthworks improvements to the foot of the embankment below the line and above the River Eden. Features include drainage ditches and pipework, rock armour to guard against erosion when flows are high, and finally replanting trees over the entirety of the affected area.

Phil Middleton, scheme project manager for Network Rail said: "This latest phase of the work means that we are getting closer to completion and we are confident that we will reopen the line on 31 March.

"We understand that the increase of heavy vehicles in the villages around the work site will be disruptive to the local community so we really appreciate the patience from residents as we work to re-open the historic and well-loved railway line."

(LM/MH)