A HOSPITAL doctor has slammed Bournemouth railway station as a "disgrace" and a "health hazard" after reporting it to public protection officers.

Brian Sweeney a consultant anaesthetist at Bournemouth and Poole hospitals, said: "I have just got back from Germany, where you could eat your dinner off the mainline station but here it's disgusting. I feel contaminated just walking through the station. I would be ashamed to have guests here. It creates a really bad atmosphere.

"I had noticed the litter problem had been getting worse in the last few weeks and it was turning into a health hazard but when I saw a dead rat down by the car park I thought I had to do something. We are going to have a serious vermin problem.

"I spoke to the station manager, who is not allowed to do anything about it because he is not contracted to clean it."

Visitors to the town by rail are met with the sight of crisp packets, take-away cartons, cans and bottles which lie between the tracks, while several long-leafed plants droop.

Paul Appleton, the principal railway inspector for the Health and Safety Executive in Sussex and Wessex, confirmed the executive would be investigating the matter.

But according to staff at the railway station, there is nothing they can do about it.

Jane Lee, a spokesperson for South West Trains, said: "None of our staff are allowed on to the track because of the electric current.

"Network Rail is contracted to litter-pick at Bournemouth station eight times a year. The problem has been that we have had a lot of engineering work at Bournemouth station, which has restricted Network Rail's ability to litter-pick.

"The good news is they have promised to send a double strength cleaning squad to deal with the problem on June 4."

A Network Rail spokesman said: "Our maintenance teams undertake litter clearance throughout the rail network but much of this work has to be undertaken under strict health and safety guidelines and often when trains are not operating, so it is not usually possible to rectify problems straight away."

Meanwhile, all that passengers like Derek Julian - who travels through Bournemouth en route to Weymouth - can do is be patient.

"The litter is appalling and it's not an isolated incident. I have heard other customers complain about it whenever I have raised the subject," he said.

"I feel ashamed of what people from abroad must think. What would they think coming here? The only time I have known it to be clean was when the Labour conference was held here. If they can clean it up during the conference, then why can't they do it all the time?

"My solution would be to get people on community service orders to help clean it up."

Another rail user, Michael Donnellan, said: "I have been using the station for four weeks and none of the rubbish has been picked up. It's just accumulating and I think it's appalling."

Any one who witnesses fly-tipping or trespassing on railway land can report it to the British Transport Police 24-hour hotline on 0800 40 50 40, or Network Rail's 24 hour Helpdesk on 08457114141.

First published: May 26