Rail station has no CCTV

Lime Street station is one of the few parts of the city centre without CCTV

One of the North West's major railway stations has not had working closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras for the past two years, it has been revealed.

Nearly 90 assaults, robberies and sexual assaults have taken place during that time at Lime Street Station, in Liverpool.

The cameras were taken down when a glass roof was installed but were not replaced.

The situation has been criticised by one of the city's MPs and British Transport Police.

Louise Ellman, Liverpool Riverside MP, said: "I am concerned that there isn't CCTV here.

Security worries

"This is a major station and people should be able to feel secure here.

"Having those cameras is part of that security."

British Transport Police said it did not know whether it would take months or years for CCTV to be installed.

It issued a statement saying: "We have got to put up with it. I would like cameras in some form.

"It is a deterrent and it makes people feel safe."

Network Rail, which owns the station, said it was currently in talks with First North Western (FNW) trains to take over its day-to-day running.

It said it plans a major refurbishment of the station, including installing CCTV, when it has finalised its deal with FNW.

FNW said it had suggested a replacement system when Network Rail took down the cameras but did not have the money to pay for it.