More than 300 people turned out to call for Baschurch Railway Station to be reopened in one of the biggest demonstrations of public opinion ever seen in rural Shropshire.

Baschurch Village Hall was packed to capacity, with every seat taken and residents standing around the side of the room, in the foyer and even in the kitchen, taking part in the debate through the serving hatch.

Dozens of adults and children who could not squeeze into the hall stood outside in the dark and listened through the open windows.

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, who chaired last night’s meeting, said he could not remember a bigger gathering at a village hall.

“I could not believe it when I drove up and saw all these people here,” he said.

“It is fantastic, a most remarkable political event which could really change things.”

But he warned it would be a “long, hard slog” when money was so tight – and the key was winning support from Shropshire Council.

The meeting was called by local rail enthusiast Steve Boulding, who has recruited construction magnate Sir William McAlpine as president of the campaign.

They believe the once thriving station – built in 1848 and closed in 1960 – should be brought back to life at a cost of around £5 million to serve the rapidly growing population of Baschurch and neighbouring villages, while cutting pollution and traffic jams.

And they would like to see a charitable trust set up to restore the historic station creating business starter units.

Mr Boulding won loud applause when he declared: “This would be the first station to re-open in Shropshire since the Beeching cuts of the 1960s.”

Ian Jenkins, vice-chairman of Rail Future in the West Midlands, said: “This is the age of the train.

“Railway stations help to revitalise rural areas.”

Local councillor and Shropshire Council cabinet member Aggie Caesar-Homden said: “I fully support you. My aim now is to have a feasibility study.”

By Peter Johnson