A campaign has been launched to restore a historic railway station after it was destroyed by a fire.

Lydd Railway Station on Romney Marsh - which has sat derelict for half a century - is now missing its roof after it was gutted by flames in November.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service say the cause of the blaze is still unknown.

The fire devastated residents, who say the building is a “part of Lydd’s heritage”.

Speaking the day after the blaze, Lydd Town councillor Maria Beach described the old station as “beautiful”.

“It was a real important part of Lydd’s heritage and it’s gone,” she said.

“I know there is a lot of people in the town who are really upset after losing it.

“It was a lovely building and I think it had a lot of potential, it’s just a shame it’s another thing which is gone.”

Now, members of Lydd Station Heritage Group are working hard to get the station restored.

The group have set up a committee to organise fundraising for their mission.

Jay Dee, who runs the group’s page on Facebook, said: “Our aim is to save the site.

“Romney Marsh has limited transport links and without a car, public transport is inadequate.

“Commuters from Lydd to Ashford, London, or other places outside the Marsh presently have two main options of driving to Ashford or Appledore for their nearest railway station or face a long drive.

“Lydd station sits there being completely overlooked and tragically wasted. The site has so much potential.

“It’s large enough to offer parking and also other facilities.”

Of the new committee, he added: “We have our constitution and rules and a treasurer who will be opening an account shortly so that we can start raising funds.

“We’re hoping that the local council and Kent County Council will support our campaign.

“We have support from Lydd council who are keen to see us succeed."

Mr Dee says members have attempted to speak with the station’s owners to discuss its future.

He adds: “We would like to gain control of the site and restore the building for the benefit of the Lydd town and surrounding areas on the Romney Marsh.

“This would involve a community cafe, community room(s), regular events (not just railway related - bootfairs etc) and so much more.

“Then we have the railway orientated uses such as the old sidings being used for the restoration of heritage rolling stock and even keeping rail worthy trains there which could be used for rail tours on the mainline.

“There is presently little to do in the area for young people and having a facility like this where they can come along and learn to fix a train or become skilled railway workers would give them a chance to do something positive that they can look forward to while learning new skills.

“We would also like to reopen the station itself to a mainline service to Appledore where commuters can change or continue to Ashford. This could be easily achieved with a rail bus or a two car unit and operated in the mornings and evenings to cater for demand.

"The site has so much potential that it simply must be saved.”

The station was built in 1881 and shut in 1971.

It was used as a car workshop later that decade but has been derelict for years and subjected to frequent vandalism attacks.

The fire happened on November 8, with four fire engines attended the building in Romney Road.