CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after railway bosses changed station signs following successful long-running battles.

William Jolliffe, of Mersea Road, has been asking for Colchester Town Station to revert to the St Botolph's name it had between 1866 and 1991.

Now Greater Anglia chiefs have adapted the sign outside the station to include a reference to its history.

Mr Joliffe, 64, said he was delighted when he noticed what had happened.

He said: "I have been trying for nearly two years to get it reinstated as when the little station opened in 1866 it was St Botolph's and remained so until 1991.

"It is such an historic station and played its part in the Boer War, and of course the First World War with the massive troop travel there from all of Essex and beyond and it was used again in the Second World War."

Mr Joliffe thanked Greater Anglia bosses Paul Oxley and Jonathan Denby for their help in securing the change.

He added: "When I first saw the sign I was so thrilled I nearly fell off my bicycle.

"It means such a lot to me and this historic part of town, especially this year as it is the centenary of the signing of armistice and in November the Royal British Legion will be gathering at the station for a short service in commemoration of the huge part it played in the war effort.

"A fuller service will then be held in St Botolph's Church."

A spokesman for Greater Anglia said: “We care about the communities we serve, which is why we listened to feedback from residents near Colchester Town, and the local MP, and have installed a sign which acknowledges the station’s heritage.

“Last year we introduced a set of history boards at Colchester Town station and we are pleased to pay homage further with the addition of this new sign, which has generated positive feedback.”

Last year, plans to change the name of the station at the Hythe to Hythe (Colchester) were approved and signs with the update name went up last week.

Cyril Thomas said:“After two years of campaigning, we are delighted this has finally been done.

"This was a joint effort of community groups, businesses, and councillors from all political parties who campaigned together to get Hythe station recognised as a Colchester station in a bid to stimulate the regeneration of a depressed area.

"I’d like to thank everyone who supported the campaign and remain optimistic about the continued progress of the Hythe.”