More than 400 people are backing a campaign to create step-free access at Croxley tube station.

A petition has been set up calling on Transport for London to introduce step-free access at Croxley Station, Watford Road, as part of the £280 million Croxley Rail Link project.

The petition set up by Croxley Green Residents Association and Croxley Green Liberal Democrats has gathered more than 400 signatures.

Mother-of-three Christine Luddington, of Baldwins Lane in Croxley Green, signed the petition.

She said: “I struggled to get down the stairs, with the pushchair and three children under three-years-old.

“A member of staff came to help, but that now seems an unlikely option. We have got elderly relatives who we have had to meet at Watford as they were unable to cope with the steps.”

The petition is calling on Transport for London to include step-free access at Croxley Station while they are building the Croxley Rail Link.

Chairman of the Croxley Green Residents Association Barry Grant said: “Because of the spiralling cost of the Croxley Rail Link and we are getting lots of people who are behind this project.

“But it seems the right time to ask Transport for London if a small amount of funding can be made available.

“The step-free access would help mothers with toddlers, grandparents with toddlers, or just anyone with young children. But it would also help elderly people or disabled people.”

The Croxley Rail Link was initially expected to cost £120 million, but latest estimates put the bill of the project at around £284 million.

Councillor Peter Getkahn said: “I’ve always been a supporter of Croxley Rail Link, but better access to the station must be provisioned as part of the project. Croxley will be massively inconvenienced during the construction of the rail-link and it’s correct that TFL do a proper job and deliver better transport for everyone.

“To make this happen, I’m working with CGRA to persuade TFL to add Step-free access for Croxley station to the project plan. I don’t want to see any residents of Croxley excluded from the benefits of this important project.”

Transport for London has been approached for a comment about the petition and step-free access at Croxley Station.

A spokesman for TFL said: "Around 40 more Underground and Overground stations will become step-free over the next decade, including Cassiobridge and Watford Vicarage Road which are being built as part of the Croxley Rail Link. 

"Funding for new lifts at Croxley, Watford Junction or Watford High Street is not currently secured, however last year the Mayor announced an extra £76million fund for step-free access schemes where contributions can be found from developers and other third parties. 

"Letters have been sent to all local authorities, including Three Rivers District Council, welcoming their suggestions and to explore future joint-funding opportunities."

The petition can be seen here: https://www.change.org/p/step-free-access-for-croxley