HUNDREDS of replacement buses will be used to get visitors without cars to this Sunday’s Saltburn Food Festival.

Because of what Network Rail says is essential improvement work, no trains will stop at Saltburn, instead Northern rail services will only be running as far as Redcar Central.

To help, Northern has arranged rail replacement buses, which will run directly to and from Saltburn from both Middlesbrough and Redcar railway stations.

Mike Paterson, regional director for Northern, said: “We have worked hard to give our customers alternative travel options to ensure they can still enjoy this prestigious food festival.”

Festival director Lorna Jackson said: “Northern has stepped up by providing a good solution to what could otherwise have been a potential problem.”

A spokeswoman for Network Rail said the works, which will run until August 1, were planned up to two years in advance.

She said: “We understand how popular the Saltburn food festival is and we’re sorry that our essential engineering work clashes with the date.”