Ageing trains which have ferried commuters between London and the East of England since the 1980s are being retired from service.

Greater Anglia's Class 317s, which remain a familiar sight in west Essex, Hertfordshire and east London, are due to be replaced by Summer 2022.

To save money and the environment, however, the parts from scrapped trains are being used for those still in service.

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This means new components are not needed for end-of-life trains, a green approach developed by engineers in Ilford.

As part of the "cradle-to-grave" approach to equipment, 36 traction engines have been repurposed, which Greater Anglia says saves hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Dunmow Broadcast: A Class 317 train in Hauxton, Cambs is being taken to Newport, South Wales for scrapA Class 317 train in Hauxton, Cambs is being taken to Newport, South Wales for scrap (Image: Simon Smith)

Martin Beable, Greater Anglia's Engineering Director, said: "This has been a huge team effort and the teams involved have put in a lot of hard work.

"It's great that we've been able to recycle components and save money at the same time."