A �2m project has started to strengthen a sea wall along a major Devon railway route to give the main line more protection from the sea.

Train services in and out of the county have been disrupted several times because of problems at Dawlish.

The aim is to reinforce a sea wall with concrete blocks in a so-called "step" construction.

Railway engineers are having to work around the tides in the area which means the work is taking longer than a more conventional project.

Under lines

In November last year, a bank and retaining wall slid onto the line leading to its closure.

The rubble on the tracks resulted in rail companies laying on road transport between Plymouth and Exeter to transport passengers.

As part of the current construction work, engineers are digging all the way down to the bedrock under the lines.

This is to prevent the tides from going under the sea wall and scouring it out, which would destabilise the line.

Diggers moved in last month to carry out preliminary excavations.

The work is due to last throughout the winter.

Rail services are not being disrupted as a result of the work.