Witham's MP Priti Patel has called for the town's train station to be open in time for passengers to catch the first train. 

Ms Patel urged Abellio Greater Anglia staff to unlock the rear access gate before the 5am train pulls away from the station following concerns raised by a number of constituents.

She has raised the matter directly with Abellio Managing Director, Jamie Burles.

Ms Patel said: "It is extremely frustrating that despite attempts to rectify this problem staff at Witham station continue to overlook unlocking the gate until it is too late for passengers to catch the train.

"Abellio need to recognise that the service they provide to passengers needs to improve drastically, it is not good enough that passengers paying high fares are been left in a predicament where they don’t know if they will be able to access the station with enough time to get on a train."