RAILWAY works planned between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton have been postponed following the Queen's death.

The work was due to take place between Saturday, September 17 and Saturday, September 24. 

It has been postponed “in response to current matters of state and our period of national mourning”.

The postponement will allow passengers to make journeys by rail during this period rather than relying on replacement bus services.

Thousands of mourners are expected to travel to London in the coming days to pay their respects to the UK's longest-serving monarch.

Somerset County Gazette: The planned works have been postponed. Picture: Tom LeamanThe planned works have been postponed. Picture: Tom Leaman (Image: Tom Leaman)

The Queen will be lying in state at Westminster Hall from Wednesday, September 14 until Monday, September 19.

Her coffin will travel to Westminster Hall from Buckingham Palace. 

Members of the public can watch the procession along its route or at a screening site in Hyde Park.

The planned bridge and track renewals between Bristol and Taunton will see the Huntspill viaduct refurbished. 

Bridges in Highbridge and Bleadon will be renovated and replaced respectively, and there will be some track renewals south of Bristol.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Planned work due to take place over a six-day period, from 11.15pm on Saturday 17 September until 5am on Saturday, September 24 has been postponed in response to current matters of state and our period of national mourning.”

More information will be posted on Network Rail's website when the work has been rescheduled.

A spokesperson for Travel Somerset, the council's roads information service, said: “Network Rail has confirmed works planned between Bristol, Weston-super-Mare and Taunton next week will no longer take place.

“This will allow passengers to continue making journeys by rail, rather than by replacement bus.”