Trains will be disrupted after more than £100,000 worth of high-voltage power cable was stolen by thieves.

Network Rail has warned passengers to expect disruption between Chorley and Bolton on Sunday, with services to Preston also affected while workers replace the cable and retest the system.

Engineers discovered that the cable was missing when they arrived to carry out work in Lostock, Bolton, over the Christmas period.

The cable provides power to the overhead line equipment, which in turn powers electric trains across the tracks.

The theft was carried out just one week before the line was due to be energised for the first time, on New Year’s Day.

We are working closely with the British Transport Police to provide additional security measures and to find and prosecute those accountable

It comes as part of work to electrify the line between Wigan and Bolton, which began in 2022.

Christian Irwin, Network Rail’s capital delivery director, apologised for the disruption.

“I am very sorry to passengers who will be impacted by the rail closure between Chorley and Bolton on Sunday,” he said.

“It is extremely frustrating for this crime to take place so close to the energisation of the line.

“Our teams have been working very hard to deliver this upgrade for passengers over several years including over this Christmas period.

“We are working closely with the British Transport Police to provide additional security measures and to find and prosecute those accountable.”

Passengers have been advised to check the National Rail website or with their train operator to find out what the closure means for their journey.

Network Rail also warned passengers to take extra care as electrified routes have a deadly 25,000 volts running through them.