THE multi-million pound redevelopment of Newton-le-Willows railway station is set to be completed in the late spring.

The £17.95m scheme will see facilities at the interchange station modernised and a new park-and-ride.

The project includes a new main station entrance and ticket office on the south side of the tracks on Alfred Street and other improvements, including new toilets, bus interchange, dedicated drop-off and pick-up area, improved waiting facilities and more cycle parking spaces.

There will be a new subway underneath the railway line and a car park with a 400 capacity also to be completed.

The renovation has been funded by the Local Growth Fund and Merseytravel and forms part of the wider £340m investment by the Liverpool City Region in rail improvements.

The improvements also aim to help create a strategic transport hub, with rail links across the country, building on the electrification works that have already taken place on the Liverpool-Manchester line.

St Helens Council cabinet member for growth, Cllr John Fulham described the scheme as "a crucial element in our plans to create thousands of jobs at Parkside".

He added the multi-million pound investment will see Newton-le-Willows' "rich railway heritage" be "matched with a top class station".

Construction began last year, with an initial completion date set for March 2018.

A spokesperson for Merseytravel confirmed that the project, is now expected to be concluded by "late spring".

They said: "Following completion of Phase One of the new car park in 2016, work is well underway on Phase Two.

"The whole car park and bus interchange is due to open late spring 2018 upon completion of the station improvements, which is also part of the overall scheme."