MP James Wharton has praised £1.2m improvement works at a railway station which provides passengers with a direct link to London.

A brand new waiting room has been built at Eaglescliffe station, near Stockton, which also features a screen giving customers up to the minute train information.

A new car park has also increased spaces available to 83 and facilities for cycle storage have been provided.

Other minor improvements include upgraded signs, anti-slip stair treads and foot bridge handrails.

The work was overseen by station operator Northern Rail. Funding came from the Tees Valley Unlimited organisation, Stockton Council and Grand Central, whose London-bound trains stop at Eaglescliffe.

Mr Wharton, the Government’s Minister for Local Growth who represents Stockon South for the Conservatives, said: “This is a great investment which has significantly improved the experience of station users - I should know I use it myself.

“I welcome the work undertaken by Northern Rail and its partners and look forward to continuing to work in the future to deliver more improvements.”

Linda Edworthy, director of strategy and investment at Tees Valley Unlimited said: “This project is the final part of a £9.5m programme of station improvement works across Tees Valley, which, alongside our investment in a Network Rail project to increase capacity for freight trains along the line, demonstrates our commitment to supporting enhancements to the local transport network.”