Greater Anglia has invested more than £1million in a bid to give rail stations across north Essex an upgrade.

The firm says it has invested the cash to upgrade waiting shelters, toilets and benches at rail stations across East Anglia.

A total of nine new waiting shelters have been installed, eight of them replacing old ones.

In north Essex the shelter upgraded is at Alresford where a new shelter has been installed.

Toilet facilities have been refurbished at Manningtree, Marks Tey, and Thorpe Le Soken.

The upgrade included new tiling, hand dryers and decoration and, at some stations, new sinks and worktops.

More than 450 platform benches have also been upgraded, and some old style metal benches have been replaced with timber ones which are more comfortable and improve the appearance of the platforms.

Benches have been installed at Alresford, Bures, Chapel & Wakes Colne, Colchester, Colchester Town, Dovercourt, Frinton on Sea, Great Bentley, Harwich International, Harwich Town, Hythe, Kirby Cross, Mistley, Thorpe Le Soken, and Wivenhoe.

Greater Anglia’s Director of Asset Management, Simone Bailey, said: “These upgrades provide a better station environment and improved comfort for passengers, as we welcome people back to the railway.

“It’s part of an ongoing programme of station upgrade projects which has also included car park re-lining and wider station presentation standards across our network to ensure our facilities are in excellent condition for our customers.”