Plans for a new car park are being examined to end the parking chaos at a provincial train station.

Uckfield station has only 13 places which are usually full by 7am.

An improved service has led to a 40 per cent rise in passengers, many of whom are parking in nearby residential streets or driving to nearby stations along the line.

Town councillors have agreed to look at providing a 60-space car park at the old station site.

It will cost about £5,000 to reveal the underlying tarmac surface at the site and a private source has previously offered to provide lighting.

The council hopes more funding will be offered by as many organisations as possible interested in solving the crisis.

If the British Rail Board Residuary (BRBR) is able to produce acceptable costings and conditions for the temporary lease of the site, it is hoped funding can be allocated as soon as possible.

Wealden Tory MP Charles Hendry and representatives from transport consultants Intermodality spoke at a two-hour council meeting.

After the meeting, Councillor Duncan Bennett said: "East Sussex County Council had previously felt a 60-bay car park would be acceptable for the location as long as safe highway access and exit points could be constructed.

"I asked whether this was possible and whether the county highways department was still in favour, to which they replied yes.

"Initially the BRBR was reluctant to discuss releasing the site for temporary use.

"But after being made aware of the urgent need for parking and the fact that any future use of the land would most likely need to include an element of parking, they said they would come back to us as soon as they could with costs and terms.

"The meeting was an extremely useful exercise.

"It achieved the purpose of moving forward with plans to relieve the parking situation around Uckfield station.

"It also left everyone in no doubt whatsoever about the potential importance of the site for the future of the reinstatement of the Uckfield to Lewes line and the possible need for a new station and other transport-related facilities.

"As long as the BRBR comes back to us with favourable terms, the outcome will be a welcome early Christmas present for residents."