Whitland's eyesore railway station should be spruced up or knocked down, says the town's traders, MP and county councillor.

They have come together to try to get the rotting building spruced up and if that's not an option then it should be flattened completely, they say.

The station buildings were boarded up about 20 years ago and have since fallen into disrepair.

"It's a complete eyesore now," said Sue Adams from the neighbouring Station House Hotel. "I think anything would be 100% better than what is there now. If it was knocked down then at least people would be able to see the town from the trains."

Local MP Simon Hart, whose constituency office is in Whitland, said: "I thought the building would have made a good office and asked Network Rail if they would consider leasing it, however they told me that it contains asbestos and they wouldn't consider such a development.

"I have now written again to Network Rail about the future of the station and been told that they are planning to overhaul the footbridge and knock down the smaller building close to the road. But they added that they have no plans for the main station building so it looks like it's going to remain boarded up and slowly rotting."

Local County Councillor Sue Allen added: "Whitland is extremely lucky to have such excellent transport links. It is a very busy and well used station with direct links to major cities.

"If they won't renovate it then maybe they could knock it down and leave the canopy in place that runs the length of the platform. There is a fantastic view of the town centre from the trains and we have a manned signal box too."

The group is now lobbying Network Rail to demolish the station and landscape the area.

"I have written again to the company saying that we appreciate that everything costs money but we don't think it's acceptable for Network Rail to just leave the building as it is," added Mr Hart.