LIFTS must be installed at Pokesdown Railway Station within the next four years, according to the new franchise agreement released this month.

Campaigners have spent the last five years calling for the station's lifts to be restored, allowing more disabled people to use the station and sparing people with pushchairs and baggage the 44 steps up to street level.

The South Western Franchise Agreement 2016 document says the next rail franchisee for the region must work with Network Rail to install a lift "on each platform at Pokesdown Station" by no later than December 31, 2019.

Andy Jones, Councillor for Boscombe East and a long-term campaigner for the lifts, said: "This is a huge step in the right direction.

"The documentation mentions Pokesdown, not just a generic station. This will happen, albeit it could be a few years off. But at least there is a firm commitment.

"We don't know who the franchisee will be yet but when we do, probably the beginning of next year, we can start pressing them to put these lifts in place as early as possible.

"This achievement is fantastic news and testament to the hard work of many, particularly the Pokesdown Community Forum, Access Dorset, and our MP Tobias Ellwood, who have worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome from day one."

Mr Ellwood said: "I am absolutely delighted. This shows that when the community can come together to lobby, things can change."

He said more work would be done to make the station more welcoming to visitors, and to advertise links with AFC Bournemouth.

The franchise document calls on the franchisee to fully fund the development, which will see the lifts linked to the footbridge over the tracks.

The lengthy campaign saw residents, members of Pokesdown Community Forum and Access Dorset, councillors and Mr Ellwood join forces to put pressure on current franchise holder South West Trains and the Department for Transport.

They argued that station footfall was higher than South West Trains claimed, and that it was ideally placed for football fans heading to Vitality Stadium.

The last two years have seen numerous meetings take place and numerous others cancelled, visits to the site by transport ministers and an amusing video by Access Dorset poking fun at how many years have elapsed since the old lift was working and disabled people could use the station.