A VOLUNTEER who led the renovation of a town's railway station has quit after accusing rail chiefs of belittling his efforts.

Michael O'Neill was one of the founders of the Bishop Auckland Station Trust(BAST)in 2009 but last night said he was leaving the president's role due to frustration over the lack of support for the group's work.

He launched a stinging attack on Northern Rail, who own the station, accusing them of ignoring his emails and belittling the volunteers.

Bast was formed to bring the station back to life. The group has installed hanging baskets and created a large mural to make the station more welcoming.

Mr O'Neill said they had put the station on the map but that Northern Rail saw them as "idiots who know nothing".

He said: "They think we are unreliable because we are volunteers, but that's disgraceful.

"We have shown our commitment time and time again but are always getting knocked back, after climbing every mountain we get another kick in the teeth."

Mr O'Neill said the company had initially shown enthusiasm for ideas including a chartered train between Bishop Auckland and York and the creation of a booking office to be manned by volunteers but then ignored further discussions on the subjects.

The Trust will continue and Mr O'Neill said he will continue to support them.

The former president said he had also had enough of criminals targeting the station after a hanging basket was stolen on the weekend and accused Northern Rail of failing to install new cameras as he claimed they had promised.

Pete Myers, Head of Service Quality for Northern Rail, said: "We are sorry that Mr O'Neill has chosen to leave as we are always keen to work with any group.

"We have supported, and will continue to support, the Friends of Bishop Auckland station in many ways, however sadly, as much as we would like to, we can't do everything that is suggested to us."

Mr Myers said the station buildings would be unsuitable to house a ticket office and that have never been plans to install cameras.

He said: "We have never stood back where help was required and we will continue to support this and all our Friends of volunteer groups."