Rail bosses get their hands dirty!

A team of 12 line-managers from South Central left their desks to don overalls, grab paintbrushes and spruce up the station.

Adam Phayer, station manager for East Coastway who manages 26 stations from Lewes to Ham Street said: "Usually we are in suits visiting the stations with a clipboard or are deskbound.

"Basically we are painting the columns up to the four-carriage mark, that s about half of the canopy.

"We are also painting all the station building doors and frames and the station front and booking hall. We have electricians in to enhance the lighting in the booking hall which is a bit dim."

The effort was in direct response to a front page article two weeks ago in which MP Gregory Barker accused the Government of "short-changing" Bexhill railusers, following the demise of Railtrack.

South Central and Railtrack are currently in discussions over the next phase of the station s refurbishment.

With Mr Phayer were Zoe Hart and Hannah Brown, PAs to station managers Joe O Meara and Gary Dell, duty station manager; Andy Lister, duty manager at Lewes; Ken Langley, duty station manager at Worthing. and Adam s PA Susanna Theeng.

Mr Barker, who was at the station for private talks with Mr O Meara, said: "I think it is terrific to see something happening at last.

"It goes to show what can happen if you leap up and down and make a fuss."

Mr O Meara told the Observer: "This is a back to the shop floor exercise. Recently we identified three stations, including Bexhill, for a clean up. All are managers and PAs, out of the office for the day to do a spot of cleaning. Staff and management are working together for the benefit of rail users."