Trains axed for Ludlow Food and Drink Festival weekend

Every train through Ludlow will be replaced by buses on the weekend thousands of visitors are due to flock to the town's annual Food and Drink Festival.

Festival organisers to-day hit out at rail chiefs for refusing to postpone 48 hours of engineering works in the area on September 10 and 11.

Timetables show rail passengers must use replacement buses on both days when travelling between Hereford and Shrewsbury and also between Broome, near Craven Arms, and Shrewsbury.

Beth Heath, publicity officer, said it was an "absolute nightmare" for everyone involved with the three-day festival, one of the biggest food events in Britain.

Mrs Heath said: "It's absolutely a major problem for us. We are worried the train companies won't be able to put on enough buses as we are expecting 22,000 people over the weekend.

"It's an absolute nightmare and we are just hoping it won't put anyone off what will be a wonderful weekend in Ludlow. "

Festival organisers said they had been inundated with messages from angry visitors trying to book rail tickets. Ludlow's park-and-rides will be expanded during the weekend, but all buses to the town are expected to be busy.

Arriva Trains Wales said the timetabling of engineering works was a matter for Network Rail.

Keith Lumley, for Network Rail, said: "Any concerns regarding replacement buses should go to Arriva Trains Wales, as it's their job to organise these services."