Southeastern has hit back at claims Faversham station is being neglected and needs to be restored to its former glory.

The train operator says it is investing significant amounts after renovating facilities and spending nearly £1 million on the town's historic station buildings.

Work including restoring wooden door frames, addressing damp and replacing station canopies have all taken place at the station, Southeastern says.

It comes after MP Helen Whately and the Faversham Society urged train bosses and the rail minister to up the ante on the new franchise which will be chosen to run rail services in Kent from the summer.

Ms Whately and society chair, Harold Goodwin, say more needs to be done than just maintaining the building.

But a spokesman for Southeastern says the company and Network Rail are doing lots of work to improve the station for visitors to the town and commuters, including installing new lifts in the autumn.

"It's not accurate to say the station building at Faversham has been neglected in recent years," the spokesman said.

"Both Southeastern and Network Rail have invested a significant amount of money, estimated to be close to £1 million, which has significantly improved the condition and ambience of the station.

"This investment includes renovation of the toilets, addressing damp problems, replacing station canopies, restoring rotten wood frames on doors and windows and repainting.

"In 2018, brand new lifts were installed at the station, providing step-free access across platforms, which involved significant work and investment from the rail industry and which provides an enhancement that goes much further than maintenance of the current station buildings."

Southeastern and Network Rail say they are committed to working with the Faversham Society in the future.

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