Orpington railway station has been decked out with 142 more parking spaces to try to make life easier for the town’s commuters.

The £1.9 million Southeastern expansion was opened on Friday by the rail company’s managing director David Statham and Orpington MP Jo Johnson.

Building work was completed shortly before Christmas on the upgraded car park, which features a second tier and improved disabled parking facilities.

A CCTV system, energy saving LED lighting and ‘petrol interceptors’ were installed in the New Year.

Construction began last July after Southeastern’s successful bid for Department for Transport funding from its Station Commercial Project Facility programme.

Mr Johnson said: “Orpington Station is a thriving transport hub for the local community, so it is vital to meet the demand from the growing number of passengers using the station on a daily basis.”

David Statham said: “The car park here in Orpington was oversubscribed and, while spaces will remain in high demand, with the DfT’s backing we’ve been able to give capacity a much needed boost – and in just six months.”