BOURNE End Railway Station is among the first stations in the country to be rewarded for improving passenger safety and security.

The railway station in Station Road, Bourne End, has been accredited with being a secure station under a government-run initiative.

The Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions manages the secure stations scheme with British Transport Police and the crime prevention charity Crime Concern.

Staff at the station won the award for their measures to tackle crime and make it harder for criminals.

And one of South Buckinghamshire's MPs has congratulated the station on its award.

Dominic Grieve, MP for Beaconsfield, wrote: "I would like to congratulate you on your success in helping in the campaign to reduce crime."

The station, which is covered by a CCTV scheme, checked and adjusted camera angles to make sure as much of the station was surveyed by the system.

Inspectors who checked the railway station also had to be satisfied that there was sufficient lighting and that the station and car park were properly fenced off.

Dilip Joshi, a spokesman for Thames Trains, which runs the station, said: "Making sure customers feel safe and secure at our stations has always been of very great concern to the company.

"Achieving Secure Station status is a further demonstration of the commitment and we are delighted that Bourne End station is one of the first to get this accolade."