BRICKLAYERS working on the latest phase of the work at Dawlish railway line are laying about 140,000 individual tiles by hand in the area.

The painstaking work has been revealed by the South West Rail Resilience programme as one of their regular updates on progress.

The bricklayers are ‘hard at work’ continuing to lay granite surfaces on the new promenade and stilling basin which features the individual tiling.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: ‘We’ve also been digging out the old surface underneath Colonnade viaduct and pouring concrete, ready to lay the new cobbles.

‘The new surface will improve the drainage, reducing the amount of water collecting in the underpass.

‘We’re planning to open the first span under Colonnade within the next few weeks so that step-free access to the King’s Walk promenade will be available once more.

‘Thank you to everyone for your continued patience.’