Engineers repairing a water main in Hampton last week uncovered the original tracks of a tram route that served the borough during the early 20th century.

Workers from Thames Water carried out excavations to access and repair the leaking water main outside Garrick’s Villa in Hampton Court Road, when they found the tracks.

The tracks are believed to belong to the 67 tram route, which ran between Hampton Court and Shepherd’s Bush from April 1903 to 1935.

The tracks were unearthed outside the home of Sir Clifton Robinson, the founder of London United Tramways, and on summer days during Edwardian times, tramways staff were invited to his mansion and Hampton Court.

The 67 tram service was later replaced by the 667 trolley bus service, which ran until 1962, before being diesel buses and the 267 covered the route.

Richard Sharp, organiser of the Hampton Transport Gala, said the discovery was "surprising and very timely".

Mr Sharp said: "Together with London United at Fulwell we'll be running free bus tours over part of the route between Twickenham and Hampton Court as part of the gala on Sunday, September 7, right passed Garrick's Villa and over the original tram tracks."

The Hampton Transport Gala takes place on Sunday, September 7.