DELAYED improvement works will lead to further disruption for passengers travelling between stations in Lancashire.

Train services between Preston and Blackpool North will resume on Monday 16 April, Network Rail said.

Snow, wind and ice from the ‘Beast from the East’ combining with Storm Emma off the Atlantic is one of the main factors that has caused the long-awaited resumption of train services to be pushed back by three weeks, a Northern spokesman said.

The additional time will be used by engineers to put the finishing touches on the upgraded line and there will be some further work on the railway after 16 April, but this is not expected to disrupt train services.

To keep customers moving, Northern will continue to operate a regular bus replacement service between Preston and Blackpool North until the line reopens on April 16.