A railway station could be on line for a multi-million pound facelift.

A £2m call is being made on Government funds to spruce up the station buildings, restoring some of the original Victorian features and improve pedestrian and disabled access at Middlesbrough station.

An upgrade of the station underpass and entrances, improved car parking and pedestrian links to the Middlehaven old dockland redevelopment site would also be part of the package, if the bid for a slice of the Government's £440m Rail Passenger Partner Programme is successful.

The bid is being developed by the Tees Valley Joint Strategy Unit and is backed by Middlesbrough Council, the Middlesbrough Town Centre Company and businesses.

Deputy Council leader and Labour Party mayoral candidate Coun Sylvia Connolly said: "The station is the most important is the most important gateway to the Tees conurbation. But in terms of appearance and facilities it lets Middlesbrough and the people of Teesside down badly.

"Despite pressure from the council and other agencies and constant complaints from commuters, we have not been able to get action from the Strategic Rail Authority, Railtrack or the franchise operators. This is why it's vital we tap into these new resources."

New paving stones have been laid, street lighting improved and CCTV introduced in the area around the station in earlier council programmes.

Businessman Brian Andrews, who owns the Cornerhouse bar near the station commented: "The only way we can make a success of the area through the development of the Cornerhouse and I am keen to extend this project into vacant floor space upstairs, the old station buffet area and former parcel office."

The proposed improvements were recommended as part of an independent strategic study into the development of the town centre."