Passengers are being warned of "extremely busy" trains next week as strikes hit the new year return to work.

Members of the RMT and ASLEF unions are taking industrial action from Tuesday, January 3, until Saturday, January 7, in an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.

Southeastern, which operates the majority of passenger services in Kent, says travellers can expect severe disruption across the network during this time, with no trains at all on Thursday, January 5.

On the four other days, affected by a walk-out by RMT members, the company says it will be able to operate a very limited service will operate on the Dartford lines, the Sevenoaks line, and the high-speed route via Ashford.

Rail workers are engaged in an ongoing dispute with bosses over pay and changes to working practices which the unions say will make the railway less safe.

Scott Brightwell, operations and safety director at Southeastern, said: "We're very sorry for the inconvenience that this industrial action by the RMT and ASLEF unions has caused.

"On RMT strike days, some routes will have a very limited service, and there will be no trains at all in some places.

"On January 5 there will be no trains on any of our lines. We urge you to check our dedicated, up-to-date, strike page before travelling.

"Train services are expected to be extremely busy on the routes that are running on RMT strike days, and so we'd advise our customers to make their journeys later in the morning and earlier in the evening if they can."

Commenting prior to Christmas, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "The union remains available for talks to resolve this dispute.

"But until the government gives the rail industry a mandate to come to a negotiated settlement on job security, pay and condition of work, our industrial campaign will continue into the new year, if necessary."