Crossrail has announced an emergency shaft in Holborn has been completed almost nine months ahead of schedule.

It represents the latest milestone in the project and comes less than two months after the first train tunnel was finished.

Almost £15 billion is being spent on the scheme, £7.1 billion of which is coming from the Mayor of London, and it will bring better trains and improved timetabling for commuters once it has been completed. 

Doug Neilson, project manager of UK Power Networks, which was responsible for the project, said: "We understand the importance of the work being undertaken by Crossrail and are pleased that our teams were able to complete this work on time."

In order to finish the project, a total of 7,000 cubic metres of material had to be excavated.

The shaft will be used to support tunnelling works to build a large crossover tunnel below Red Lion Square at Holborn.