TRAINS running between Newton Abbot and Exeter have been halted after strong winds and waves damaged the line at Dawlish.

Severe weather battered the district yesterday with gridlocked roads, grounded flights, cancelled trains and shut schools.

A spokesman for Great Western Railway revealed: ‘Unfortunately we can’t run beyond Exeter today as the Dawlish sea wall is closed.’

Rail chiefs announced the suspension of services were down to flooding and debris.

All Great Western Railway and CrossCountry services have been put on hold because of ‘significant damage.’

For more information about your journey visit the National Rail website.