A PUB landlord is calling for Pokesdown Railway Station to be renamed to reflect the success of AFC Bournemouth.

The station was dubbed 'Pokesdown for Boscombe' a few years ago to tie in with the regeneration project around Boscombe Pier, including the ill-fated surf reef, as part of a deal between South West Trains and Bournemouth council.

Mark Evans, landlord of The Bell, opposite the station, hopes that renaming it again will encourage more people to visit Pokesdown and also make it easier for fans to reach Vitality Stadium.

He also wants new signs put in place to direct people from the station.

"I put the idea to (Bournemouth East MP) Tobias Ellwood at a meeting just before Christmas," he said.

"I said it was named Pokesdown for Boscombe because of the surf reef, a £3.5 million flop, and why don't we name it Pokesdown for 'AFC Bournemouth' or for 'Bournemouth Stadium' instead.

"The club is going up and up, they are staying in the Premier League and investing in their stadium. Hopefully this is going to carry on.

"Pokesdown is the closest station to the stadium and at the moment there are no signs telling anyone where it is.

"This would be good for local businesses."

He said Mr Ellwood had described the idea as "excellent" and had passed it on to South West Trains and Cherries.

Responding to a query from the Daily Echo, a spokesman for South West Trains said it was an "interesting suggestion".

"Of course we need to remember that not everybody visiting the station is travelling to the stadium," she said.

"We actually changed the name of the station to 'Pokesdown for Boscombe' a few years back as part of an agreement with Bournemouth Borough Council as a way of promoting the regenerated sea front and encouraging new visitors to Boscombe.

"We do work with AFC Bournemouth to promote train travel to the club and will continue to look for partnership opportunities."

The meeting at the Bell before Christmas was part of the ongoing campaign for new lifts to be installed at the station, which lies 40 steep steps down from street level.

Meetings have taken place with South West Trains and the Department for Transport but as yet no decision has been made.