TROUBLESHOOTING talks are being held to improve passenger safety at Adlington train station.

Concerns have been voiced by residents, following numerous incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Now, rail bosses, the neighbourhood watch, the town council and the borough council are putting their heads together to find a solution.

Cllr Robert Yates, the town's deputy mayor, attended a meeting along with Jane Meek, Chorley Council's head of regeneration, Adlington Mayor Cllr Florence Molyneaux and Keith Warren, chairman of the Chorley and District Neighbourhood Watch.

He said: "There is a great deal of vandalism at the station and we had a very useful discussion about what we could do to help."

In addition to curbing vandalism, British Transport Police has had to step up patrols to prevent youngsters taking short cuts across the rail tracks.

This has been happening since the wooden steps leading from the northbound platform to Railway Road were closed.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "The footbridge has been closed temporarily on the grounds of safety and the new steps are on order. However, there is no date as to when they will be opened. In the meantime there is no excuse for anybody taking a short cut across the tracks because there is a perfectly good level crossing there."

Cllr Yates said that there was around £7,500 earmarked for transport improvements in the town from cash that was granted for the Fairview Farm youth and community development. He added: "We are going to look at our budget over the next 18 months to see what we can put in the pot towards the improvements."

Lighting in the area is also an issue and CCTV has been suggested as a possible way of improving the anti-social behaviour problem.

Cllr Yates said that the fencing also needed to be replaced and that the overgrown trees and shrubbery needed to be tidied up.

Jane Meek is now finding out what Chorley Council can do to help the situation and is also talking with the railway company, Northern Rail, but no decisions have yet been made.

Cllr Mick Davies, of Adlington Town Council, said: "The problems at the station have been going on for a few years.

"The station becomes like a youth club after 7pm and there is a lot of damage and vandalism."