Thousands of rail travellers in the region today endured further misery as Arriva Northern axed hundreds of services.

Commuters have been forced to catch buses from stations after the troubled train operator cut services across the region because of a driver shortage.

The revised timetable, which is expected to be in place until February 24, means routes such as the Transpennine Express, which connects Manchester, Leeds and the North-East, are reduced.

Newcastle-Darlington-Middlesbrough-Saltburn and Newcastle-Hartlepool are also affected.