Rail bosses have promised that Arundel station will be given a revamp costing hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Train operator South Central says it will spend a "considerable" amount of money on refurbishing Arundel station at the start of next year.

The work will include improving the platforms, footbridge, canopy and painting the station.

More than a year ago, proposals were discussed to demolish the current building and build a new station but these plans have been shelved for the foreseeable future.

South Central spokesman Marsid Greenidge said: "Those plans have very definitely been put on the backburner because of the changes at Railtrack and the franchise.

"But SouthCentral, along with Railtrack, will be spending a considerable amount of money on Arundel station in the new year. I don't know how much exactly but we are talking hundreds of thousands of pounds."

Local people have been campaigning for many years to see improvements at the station which is the gateway to the historic town of Arundel.

They say the building has paint peeling off the walls and looks dingy, putting off tourists as they step from the train.

Derek Edginton, of the Arundel Society, said: "We managed to get the rail companies to come down here and listen to our views and see our designs.

"They came back with a modified version about a year ago but then Railtrack went into receivership and the whole thing ground to a halt.

"In the meantime, the station is looking more and more in a bad way. We were told nothing would be done until the new rail franchise was awarded but I am very pleased that something is at last being done to improve it."

The work is due to start in early January.

In August, SouthCentral was given a seven-year franchise to run rail services in the South. The firm had wanted a 20-year franchise.

Plans for Arundel station are due to be discussed at a planning and environment committee tomorrow.