PLANS are in motion to transform a railway waiting room into a first class drinking establishment.

High House Farm Brewery has submitted a planning application to convert a waiting room at Hexham railway station into a micro-pub.

The application states: "Our proposal is to bring back to life the former first class waiting room which is one of the main rooms on platform two."

Hexham railway station is a Grade II listed building and dates back to 1835. 

In their application the Matfen-based brewery details an extensive list of restoration work to reinstate many of the waiting room's original features. 

This will include refurbishing the fireplace, restoring the original clock above the doorway and filling in missing cornicing. 

A traditional railway style sign is envisaged to hang above the door on the outside. 

The brewery, whose award winning beers include Auld Hemp and Matfen Magic, say their application has the support of the Railway Heritage Trust who are prepared to fund some of the works.

The application states: "The proposal has been considered in terms of limiting the effect on the historic building whilst looking to return it to useful life; thus providing a service to railway passengers which we feel would be of benefit to the station and employment for local people."