IT was like waving a red flag at a bull when rail company Northern Spirit suggested changing the name of Thornaby Station, Teesside, to Stockton Parkway.

One resident and member of a family of railway workers even threatened to chain herself to a station fence in protest at the "insult".

It was bad enough losing the name of the town on its rail station, but to replace it with neighbouring Stockton was more than Thornaby people could stomach.

They and councillors fired off indignant letters to Northern Spirit, stressing the sense of pride and place they felt at living in Thornaby.

The protest worked and the rail company decided to leave things as they are.

The town gained "independence" five years ago, when it won the right to have its own town council

Northern Spirit managing director Nigel Patterson said: "I was soon made aware of the strength of feeling for the name Thornaby. I now completely understand and sympathise with the need for the name Thornaby to stay."

He said the name change idea was to help explain to train passengers from outside the area how to get to Stockton. He said few people beyond Thornaby knew of its existence.

Lily Atkin, from Thornaby, said: "I'm relieved they decided not to change the name. It's not just the name of the station they're changing, but effectively the town's name.

"My whole family is steeped in the railways. My father, great-grandfather, uncle and brother all worked on Thornaby railways, so it's more than just a mere name.

"We always seem to be battling against wiping Thornaby off the map. Even the university is called the Stockton campus, when it's in Thornaby.''