WEARY protestors are planning to 'celebrate' the fifth anniversary of their first protest photograph by re-creating it again - in a bid to press for lifts at Pokesdown Station.

Furious protestors want station users - or people who would use the station but can't because of the lift situation - to turn up this evening to recreate the image accompanying this story.

Chair of the Pokesdown Community Forum, Pam Ruthvan said: "There's going to be a council meeting at Bournemouth Town Hall on Monday evening about the lifts and we want to publicise that many people still can't use the station because there are still no lifts!"

She said that Pokesdown has the biggest drop from road to platform on the network, and the longest platform, which, she said, was an asset for long trains.

"We want businesses, nursery school families, people who are disabled and anyone affected by the lack of lifts at the station to turn up," she said.

As part of the agreement to award the franchise to South Western Railway in March 2017 it was required to have the new lifts in place by December 31, 2019.

However the last work understood to be carried out was structural surveys in February and March and no update has been given since.

BCP Council ward councillor Andy Jones, who has been a key figure in the long-running campaign to improve accessibility at Pokesdown station, said the situation was an “absolute disgrace”.

He has written to the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, and has requested representatives of the firm attend an upcoming council meeting to explain why the project has been delayed.

“It is simply not acceptable for the status quo to continue and certainly not beyond the date agreed in the franchise contract,” he said.

“The fact that so many people are prevented from using the station is an absolute disgrace in this day and age – accessibility for all has to be paramount here.”

He has written to Mr Grayling claiming that his emails to the rail firm are being ignored and asking what sanctions the government will introduce should the December 31 deadline be missed.

The campaign has also received the backing of local MP Tobias Ellwood.