An Ashford woman is leading the fight against Eurostar plans to cut its services to the town.

Mrs Edith Robson has set up a petition calling for the direct train from Ashford to Brussels to be kept.

"I've lived here for 18 years, and my husband is a railwayman, so we've used Eurostar since it started," she said. "He now works full time in Brussels, so obviously I want to be able to see him.

"Some people have small businesses in Brussels and may have to pull out if the service goes."

Mrs Robson, a French language teacher, believes many people are not aware of the impact the reduction in services will have on the town.

"I really want to heighten people's knowledge of what's happening," she said. "It will be very detrimental to Ashford's future if we lose this service.

"I and others from as wide a net as Eastbourne, Tunbridge Wells, Deal, Canterbury and Ashford have been actively campaigning to have Eurostar rethink their strategy."

Eurostar has said that from November it is moving its direct Brussels service to Ebbsfleet in north Kent, and is reducing the number of Ashford's daily trains to the continent from 11 to four.

Mrs Robson says Eurostar will be directly responsible for a "massive carbon footprint" by forcing many people to use cars to gain access to Eurostar at Ebbsfleet.

Four MEPs, Richard Ashworth, Sharon Bowler, Caroline Lucas and Peter Skinner, are involved in the campaign to maintain Ashford's Eurostar service.

They claim Eurostar is abusing its monopoly position after securing millions of pounds from the European Union to fund the Channel Tunnel rail link by not having a proper consultation with customers.

Railfuture is calling on Eurostar to provide a better service, with trains calling at least every two hours alternately at Ebbsfleet or Ashford. Paris, Lille and Brussels must be served by these trains.

Railfuture, in conjunction with European rail passenger organisations, has been campaigning within the European Union for improved cross-border rail services throughout Europe, in line with EU policy.

The Ashford-Calais rail service is an example of worst practice, with only three outward and two inward trains daily, at absurdly high fares, while motorists have both frequent Eurotunnel and ferry services.

Dover-Folkestone and Calais should enjoy Eurostar services from Ashford every two hours.

Railfuture urges both Eurostar and the Government to reconsider their attitudes, have more concern for the environment of the south-east, and ensure that Ashford retains at least its present service levels.

You can download a petition form. Please print out a form, collect signatures and return to Mrs Robson. Contact details on the form. Euro Parliament petition

Or you can contact Edith Robson at wheesht37 at yahoo.co.uk.