NORTHERN is to scrap 165 trains a day from Monday until the end of next month in a bid to reduce last-minute cancellations.

The rail firm has been hit by at catalogue of delays and withdrawn services in recent weeks, worsened since May 20 by the introduction of a new timetable.

From Monday six per cent of 2,800 daily train services will be temporarily removed until the end of July.

The new temporary timetable will include a reduced service from Colne through Burnley, Blackburn and Preston to Blackpool South and the scrapping of a small number of trains between Blackburn and Southport via Manchester Victoria.

Where possible rail replacement buses will operate.

David Brown, Managing Director of Northern said;"The interim plan will help ensure we start to get back on track and start to give customers more certainty around the services we operate."