Rail passengers faced a miserable start to Christmas Eve with trains being cancelled between Swindon and Bristol Parkway.

Services between the two stations have been cancelled due to flooding and trains running between London Paddington and Swansea are being diverted - with journey times extended up to 45 minutes.

Network Rail said it was working closely with the Environment Agency and its weather service to try and keep things moving where possible.

Robin Gisby, NR's director of network operations, said: "We apologise to passengers who have had their journeys disrupted at this busy time and we are doing all we can to keep things moving.

"However, safety is our priority and where flooding has submerged tracks or damaged structures we cannot allow trains to run.

"Our engineers have been out at vulnerable locations since the rains began and through the night to monitor the situation and we are doing all we can to help operators get passengers to where they want to get to."