DEVON County Council (DCC) Leader John Hart has reacted to the Government announcement that it has asked train operators to withdraw proposals to close hundreds of rail station ticket offices, following a public consultation.

Devon County Council Leader John Hart said: 'I wholeheartedly welcome and support the Government’s decision to tell railway operators to scrap plans to close ticket offices.

'The county council voted unanimously to oppose the closures and lobby strongly for them to be retained. Devon is a very rural county with a higher than average number of older people who often rely on this service.

'Our Cabinet member, Andrea Davis, who chairs the Peninsula Transport board, has also been very vocal in making our views known to the rail operators and Ministers.

'This is a sensible, commonsense decision.'