There will be no trains operating on the Avocet Line between Exmouth and Exeter on strike days this week, Great Western Railway has confirmed.

It comes as part of a national strike by the RMT union in a dispute over pay and terms and conditions.

The strike days are Tuesday 21, Thursday 23, and Saturday 25 June.

There will be no trains at all on Devon branch lines, including to Barnstaple, Exmouth, Paignton, and Okehampton. There will be 'very limited' services from 7.30am to 6.30pm however between Plymouth and Exeter St Davids (and beyond), with intermediate stations including Newton Abbot, Teignmouth, and Dawlish.

On the days between the strikes, ie. Wednesday 22 and Friday 24 June, there will only be roughly one train per hour to and from Exmouth and no trains before 7am.

'Only travel by rail if necessary'

GWR is warning customers to only travel if necessary - and if they do, to expect severe disruption.

It expects trains that can operate will be extremely busy, and it cannot provide replacement buses.

Refunds

GWR will allow people with tickets for travel on strike days to be able to travel either on the day before or any day up to and including Tuesday 28 June.

If you have already bought a ticket, you can get a full refund or amend your journey. If you travel and are delayed by 15 minutes or more, you might be able to claim 'delay repay' compensation.

Click here for more information on refunds and compensation.