Passengers headed for London airports over Christmas are set to experience disruption as National Rail begins a period of intensive engineering works.

Gatwick Express train services from London Victoria will stop for the next ten days, reassuming only on January 4th.

This is to allow for the replacement of a major railway junction at Purley, south London.

At the same time, Heathrow rail links will stop for four days from Christmas Day.

Neither Heathrow Express nor Heathrow Connect services will run between Paddington and Slough during the period.

The last Gatwick Express of the year leaves London at 21:15 on Christmas Eve, with passengers advised to check with train operators of possible replacements following this time.