LONDON North Eastern Railway (LNER) is urging customers to book their Christmas tickets now to secure their seats following a strong surge in bookings over the festive season.

The Christmas period is already proving popular with more than 175,000 bookings so far for the period between December 22 and January 4.

As tickets are selling fast, LNER is encouraging people to book now to avoid disappointment.

David Horne, Managing Director at LNER, said: “After the lockdown of last year, this Christmas is likely to be extra special for many people as they reunite with family and friends.

"We are delighted to be helping people make those memorable trips, and we’re urging anyone still looking to travel to book as soon as possible as tickets are selling quickly.

"We’re also recommending customers reserve their seats so they can travel in comfort for the duration of their journey.”

During the Christmas period, customers are advised to arrive at the railway station early to allow time for boarding and to limit their luggage to what they can carry.

LNER recommends customers book direct at lner.co.uk or by using the new LNER mobile app for the best fares and live journey updates.