A Government visit to Corsham’s former station has been warmly welcomed by campaigners seeking to reopen the town’s rail link.

Transport minister Stephen Hammond, who has responsibility for railways, will visit the town next Thursday with prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate Michelle Donelan.

Former councillor Peter Davis campaigned extensively to re-open the station, which was closed in 1965.

He said: “I would welcome this with open arms; we have been fighting for over 30 years to get Corsham Station reopened, to relieve the great pressure on our local roads in and out of Bath.

“With more and more properties being built and more people having to travel to work we must have an alternative means of transport to highways, and local rail services are the answer.

“I will be very keen to hear what the minister has to say.”

The minster will first visit Melksham Station to see how council investment has helped develop its facilities, before joining a round-table discussion on proposals to re-open Corsham station.