A TRAIN station has been rewarded for its excellent passenger safety.

Staff at Bellingham Station have been handed a Secure Station Award as part of the Secure Stations scheme run by the department for transport and British Transport Police.

Crime at the station has reduced in recent years with praise handed out to staff for their conflict management and excellent passenger survey results.

Graffiti is always removed quickly while its good lighting, CCTV and secure fencing also made it eligible for the award.

Charles Horton, managing director of Southeastern, which runs the station, said: “We are proud of the work that our station staff have put in at Bellingham and it shows our commitment at Southeastern to providing a secure and safe environment for our passengers."