MORE than 23,000 people have booked First Great Western train services for their Bank Holiday Weekend getaways.

But the company is warning that bookings are necessary as it is amending its timetable to accommodate engineering work.

The train operator says the bookings have been made by people from London, South Wales and the Cotswolds as well as the South West.

On the most popular route, between London Paddington and Devon and Cornwall, 3,000 bookings have been made for today and tomorrow.

A further 2,600 reservations have been made for the same route in the opposite direction.

The company's reservations controller, Graham Boot, said: "Our services are likelier to be busier next week, as engineering work at Slough means we are running an amended timetable.

"It's always best to reserve a seat in advance."

Further information on the amended timetable is available on (0845) 748 49 50 or at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Seat reservations can be made on (0845) 7000 125.