LEYLAND residents are campaigning for a nearby train station to be re-opened.

Members of the Ormskirk, Preston, Southport Travellers' Association (OSPTA) met with council officials on Saturday (August 26) to consider the future of the town's Midge Hall Station.

The desolate station, off Longmeanygate, was closed to rail passengers almost 40 years ago when the area was a rural farming community.

But OPSTA have been pressing for its re-opening for almost two decades.

Many members believe that the area's transformation into a residential and industrial district over the last 20 years -- including the construction of Garth and Wymott prisons nearby -- makes the station a high priority for refurbishment.

OPSTA chairman, John Blinkhorn, said: "We believe that there is a far better case to re-open Midge Hall than some other stations in Lancashire." And a survey carried out two years ago revealed that the Railtrak and First North Western-owned line is currently in use and has recently been relayed.

It is hoped that the Midge Hall station would be similar to the four platform rail station at Balshaw Lane, in Euxton, near Leyland, which was re-opened two years ago at a cost of around £500,000.

But, since Midge Hall has only one platform, the cost of getting the station up and running is expected to be less, although rail passengers have requested basic necessities including a shelter, lighting, a toilet and perhaps a cycle rack.

Farington Parish councillor and regional spokesman for Transport and the Environment, John Edwin, said: "John Blinkhorn and OPSTA have done sterling work in improving the profile of the case.

"I consider that we need one last good push to consolidate all this work and we will win."