THERE have been more calls this week to clean up Farnham Station and surrounding roads after Conservative campaigner Jeremy Hunt found a dead rat during a litter pick.

The Herald reported complaints about litter at the station in February, but Mr Hunt, the man hoping to become South West Surrey's next MP, has raised the matter again.

A team of litter pickers including Mr Hunt, filled four bags of rubbish.

Mr Hunt has called for Network Rail, which owns the track and Station Approach, and leases the station to South West Trains, to deal with the problem before it becomes a public health hazard.

Mr Hunt said: "We know that litter problems are worrying residents, especially in Ashley Mews where people have found rats in their gardens. Network Rail must take its responsibilities to the local community seriously.

"The railway tracks are also covered in litter by the level crossing. Local Conservatives would be willing to clear it up but cannot because of the electrified lines."

Jenny Swift, who lives in Ashley Mews, said: "The litter is disgusting and the maintenance of the tracks by Network Rail is a disgrace."

South West Trains, which leases the station from Network Rail, invited The Herald to look at the station and surrounding area on Tuesday morning. The station platform was spotless, though there was a reasonable amount of rubbish on the embankment heading up the line to Waterloo.

Tony Bassani, group station manager, said: "There's a growing concern about litter and we've put a more robust programme in and we will be looking at (litter picks) about twice a month - before it was about three or four times a year."

Mr Bassani pointed out three rat bait traps, which poison rats, but said none of his staff had ever seen a rat.

Gareth Leslie, area station manager, said the litter problem is "no worse" at Farnham than anywhere else.

Mr Leslie said Station Approach was cleared in March or April when 45 bags were filled with rubbish. He said he will report the litter problem again to Network Rail, which owns the road and is responsible for it.

He also said South West Trains plans to fence off a piece of land in Station Approach, where motorists park and drop rubbish, in the next month.

He added that the litter problem might be reduced with the introduction of the new Desiro trains which will have windows that cannot be opened, meaning litter cannot be thrown out of trains.

In a statement, Network Rail said it picks up litter at Farnham station at least four times a year and its next planned litter-pick is in August, when it will also be taking measures to control vermin.

The statement said litter "occasionally" blows on to the tracks and that problems with rats can be ascribed to fly tipping in the area.

"We are monitoring the situation and will be taking measures to reduce the amount of waste being dumped on Network Rail land."