THE MP for Pershore has slammed rail companies for causing "extremely frustrating" delays to the expansion of the station car park.

Calls for a new car park at Pershore Railway Station have been long-standing, with a plan for 200 extra spaces unveiled in 2016.

However, little progress has been made on the plan, with Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire repeatedly calling for quicker action from Network Rail and Great Western Railway.

A meeting was planned for March, however, this had to be delayed due to problems with snow. The meeting is now scheduled for May.

Mrs Baldwin said: “I have been involved in a long dialogue with both Network Rail and Great Western Railway to try and find a way to deliver the new car park – and its connecting bridge much faster and much more cheaply.

"In my view, both organisations are simply looking for reasons not to support this project and it has been extremely frustrating, not just for me, but for the hundreds of rail passengers and potential passengers disappointed by this lack of action.

“I have also raised this matter with the Department for Transport and I hope to be meeting with a senior director from Network Rail in Pershore, shortly.”

The new car park would be built on land owned by Wychavon District Council adjacent to the station.

It was set to incorporate a new footbridge and will allow more people to use the station, helping to make the case for more services and further investment in the line.

A spokesman for Network Rail claimed that the car park extension does not involve the company.

They claim that the only work they are doing at the station is current platform extensions to allow for bigger trains, which is also happening at Evesham station.

A Great Western Railway spokesman was unavailable for comment.