No direct trains between Manchester and London on Easter or May Bank Holiday weekends

There will be no direct trains between Manchester and London during the big Easter getaway and the May Bank Holiday weekend.

London Euston station will be closed over the four-day easter weekend, and three day weekend early in May due to extensive engineering work taking place on the tracks leading into the terminus in the capital.

Consequently, there will be no direct trains from Manchester Piccadilly to London, with passengers instead having to change at Sheffield, Leeds, or Birmingham.

This will increase journey times.

Virgin are advising against all but essential travel on both weekends, saying they have chosen to carry out the work at these times to cause the least disruption.

The first closure begins on Good Friday, April 19, and runs for four days until Monday, April 22, with the station re-opening as normal on Tuesday, April 23.

North London side Tottenham face City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, April 20.

There will be no direct trains between Manchester and London during the period (PA)

Some Virgin trains will be running from Manchester but will only as far as Milton Keynes and will be much less frequent.

The firm says journey times will be longer and that anyone intending to travel on these is 'strongly advised' to book a seat as they will be extremely busy.

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To help alleviate congestion, Virgin are removing the afternoon peak restrictions on Thursday, April 18, and during the closure period their tickets will be valid on other routes.

Euston is being closed for a total of seven days over two bank holiday weekends (Getty Images)

The firm says on their website: "We highly recommend that you avoid travelling on these dates unless you absolutely have to.

"If you do choose to travel then, make sure you plan carefully and give yourself more time to get to where you need to be.

"It’s also worth reading all the information and checking our updates just before you leave."

The station will then be closed for three days over the May Bank Holiday weekend, from Saturday, May 4, until Monday, May 6.

Again, Euston will be closed and there will be no trains between Euston and Milton Keynes.

Services between Piccadilly and Milton Keynes will be reduced and are likely to be busy.

The station will re-open as normal on Tuesday, May 7.