Trains4deal, the pressure group calling for a high-speed train service to Deal and Sandwich, is celebrating its first birthday with a meeting on Monday.

Campaigner Ian Killbery said: "The organisation was born following a meeting at Deal Town Hall packed with local people outraged at the poor service offered by Southeastern's new timetable.

"SInce then we've managed to gain the support of Kent County Council, and alerted the rail operator and the Department for Transport to our problems locally in being left off the high-speed network."

Monday's meeting will hear an update from Cllr Julie Rook on progress at County Hall in lobbying for a trial high-speed service during next July's Open Golf at Sandwich, and what are the chances of a permanent change before the end of Southeastern's franchise in 2014.

Tom Rowland will report on recent meetings where the train company has seemed "more flexible" than before, plus news of next January's fare increases of up to 12%, which will "hit local commuters hard".

Trains4deal's's open public meeting is at The Alma in West Street at 7.30pm Monday 6 Dec; full details atwww.trains4deal.com