RESIDENTS in London Colney have given overwhelming support to proposals to build a new railway station in their village.

A petition organised by St Albans Conservatives to force Thameslink to consider building a new station on the former Napsbury Halt site has won the backing of more than 400 residents in just one day.

St Albans Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate Charles Elphicke, who has spearheaded the campaign, believes that it is high time that London Colney enjoys the same transport links as St Albans.

"We are ambitious for London Colney and want to see it benefit from improved transport links and prosperity from the rising property prices that the station would bring," he said.

"A station would also mean real environmental benefits, encouraging residents south of St Albans to travel to work by train rather than by car."

Mr Elphicke intends to meet rail operator Thameslink to hand over the petition and press the case for building a station in Napsbury.

The plans have also won cross-party support from district councillors who agreed on Tuesday to write to the Strategic Rail Authority, Railtrack and Silverlink calling for the new station.