NETWORK Rail is planning essential engineering work across the south this Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

Rail bosses believe fewer people will be using the train. The largest engineering project will take place in the Basingstoke area.

The following lines will be closed from the early hours of Good Friday until Tuesday 29 March: Winchfield to Winchester, Winchfield to Andover and Basingstoke to Reading. On 27 March, the closure will extend to Woking.

South West Trains will operate replacement bus services all weekend between Basingstoke and Winchester and Basingstoke to Andover.