The car park of one of Somerset's busiest railway stations will be closed for three months in the new year.

Castle Cary railway station handles more than 310,000 passengers a year, according to the Office of Rail and Road, serving the eponymous town and numerous settlements in central Somerset.

Great Western Railway (GWR), which operates the station, opened a new car park on land at the eastern edge of the station in early-November, providing nearly 200 additional spaces in a bid to stop passengers from parking on the A371 Station Road.

The rail operator has now announced that the station car park will shut from January 5, 2024 for up to three months to allow for extensive resurfacing.

During this time, rail passengers will have to rely on the original car park (which is small and regularly congested) or use other car parks within the town itself.

Castle Cary Town Council confirmed the roadworks with a statement published on its website on Thursday (December 14).

Catrin Loxton, who handles bookings of the Market House venue in the town centre on the council's behalf, said: "We have received the following update from GWR on the new car park at Castle Cary Railway Station.

"As of November 6, the new car park was opened temporarily while we completed contracts for the resurfacing of the access lane.

"That is now complete, and the car park will close on Friday, January 5, 2024 to allow our contractors to start work. It will reopen in April, sooner if we can.

"Posters are going up at the station so that customers are aware before they start their Christmas break. We are also asking APCOA, which manages the car park, to contact users directly where they have details.

"The resurfacing to the lane is the final stage of the work and once the car park opens again it will remain open. We will continue to keep you updated on progress."

Passengers using Castle Cary station between January and April will have to use the existing car park, accessed near the eastbound platforms, which is also managed by APCOA.

If this car park is full, passengers will have to use the long stay car parks on Catherine's Close and Millbrook Gardens – both of which are free to use by more than a mile's walk from the station.

Pedestrians not wishing to walk along the busy A371 to the railway station can use an existing footpath from Ansford Hill to the station, across the site where 200 new homes will soon be constructed.

For further details about services to and from the station, including services during the Christmas and New Year period, visit www.gwr.com/stations-and-destinations/stations/castle-cary.