FEARS that Wootton Bassett railway station may never re-open are to be raised with ministers by MP James Gray.

Concerns stem from the controversial decision by the cash-strapped Strategic Rail Authority to axe the Bristol to Oxford service.

The route is run by First Great Western in conjunction with Thames Trains and services will end in the summer.

But the decision has thrown doubt on whether funding will ever be found to re-open the station.

Plans to reopen Corsham station next year also look likely to be scuppered by the SRA's decision.

James Gray, Tory MP for North Wiltshire, who has been supporting the campaign, fears this means it is highly unlikely that the Wootton Bassett project will be successful.

He said: "Up until now, the plan has been to reopen Corsham station first, but that is now in doubt because the Bristol to Oxford service is closing down.

"If the Corsham project doesn't go ahead, there is not much chance of Wootton Bassett ever reopening, which would be very disappointing."

Mr Gray will discuss the issue on Monday with transport minister David Jamieson.

Joining him at the meeting at the Department for Transport in London will be a delegation of local councillors and rail campaigners.

Residents have campaigned for many years to get Wootton Bassett station, which closed in the 1960s, brought back into service.

But despite the latest setbacks, Coun Steve Bucknell (Con, Wootton Bassett South), of North Wiltshire District Council, who has been leading a working party looking into the scheme, is still optimistic.

"It's foolish to say it will never reopen," he said.

"I think it will reopen eventually."

One possibility is that a new station could be built on the former St Ivel site, which is adjacent to the railway line.

Town clerk Jonathan Bourne said: "People have been very optimistic that it would reopen.

"This is a giant setback."