FRUSTRATED rail passengers were told they could not catch trains from stations close to Bolton early today -- because of a blunder during engineering work in Chorley.

Workmen tried to remove a bridge at the Royal Ordnance factory in Chorley yesterday but the load was too heavy for their crane.

The work had to be abandoned until this morning, which meant trains from Preston being diverted at Leyland, via Wigan.

This meant services by-passed stations at Chorley, Adlington, Blackrod, Horwich Parkway and Lostock.

Passengers travelling to Manchester from these stations needed to catch a bus, supplied by First North Western, to Bolton where they could then catch the train.

A spokesman said: "We're as much a victim in this as our passengers. We apologise for the inconvenience."