Additional late night service from Paddington to Cornwall and Devon will start from Monday, after the destruction of the rail line at Dawlish saw the popular sleeper service cancelled while repairs are underway.

First Great Western will be adding a 21.35pm weekday service from London Paddington to the South West.

This extra service will call at Reading, 22.01; Taunton, 23.20; Tiverton Parkway, 23.33 and Exeter St Davids at 23.51, with a connecting executive coach service from Tiverton Parkway to Plymouth and Cornwall.

Alison Seabeck MP for Plymouth said: "I am delighted First Great Western have listened to concerns raised from people in Plymouth. Putting on this additional train shows Plymouth is open for business and FGW deserve credit for acting to support the City."

Coaches, which will be for customers from the 21.35 only, will leave from Tiverton Parkway at 23.40 calling at: • Plymouth at 00.55 • Bodmin Parkway at 01.45 • Bodmin Town Centre at 01.55 • Truro at 02.35 • Penzance at 03.25 There will also be a direct coach between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot, departing 23.59 and arriving at 00.30.

FGW General Manager West David Crome said: "I am delighted that we can offer this additional service, allowing customers to travel from London to the South West late into the evening while the sleeper service is unable to operate.

"The sleeper will be back once Network Rail completes the work at Dawlish and until then we will do everything we can to minimise disruption to our customers' journeys."