A CAMPAIGN to improve facilities at Darwen railway station by introducing staff has been launched.

The town's MP Janet Anderson, and a group of councillors, are working together to get the station manned in a bid to reduce vandalism and fare-dodging.

Blackburn with Darwen Council, which has already paid to install CCTV and new shelters at the station, has backed the proposal in principle. But train operators Northern Rail say they will only introduce staff if funding is provided to pay for a new booth at the station.

Mrs Anderson, who held a meeting with Northern Rail, has called on the council to pay for the scheme.

She said: "I held a meeting with Northern Rail who said that if the council smartened the station up, then they would consider putting staff in.

"I definitely want this to happen.

"At the moment there is a significant problem of people travelling for free from Darwen because nobody is checking tickets."

Coun David Smith, Sunnyhurst ward councillor for Labour, added: "It is a good idea because there are a lot of problems with vandalism, and knowing the station was manned would put people off."

For Darwen councillor Tony Melia welcomed plans to revamp the site, but does not believe staffing the station is necessary as other towns do not have manned stations.

Mike Cliffe, transport policy team leader for the council, said: "We are happy to work with Northern Rail and Network Rail on turning the station into a manned one, but the lead would have to come from the rail industry."

Carolyn Watson, for Northern Rail, said: "Where there is a demand for introducing staffing at currently unmanned stations we are happy to work with partners to identify third party funding opportunities."