A solution may be in sight to the long-running problem of lack of car parking space at Nailsea and Backwell railway station.

North Somerset Council has started negotiations to buy a piece of land next to the existing car park to extend it and provide 200 new spaces.

Parking at the station car park is currently free and if the extension gets the go-ahead, the authority is considering introducing charging.

The move to increase the number of car parking spaces from 120 to 320 follows complaints from commuters who claim the car park at Station Road is full by 8am each morning.

They are then forced to park in nearby streets, which clogs up residential roads – much to the anger of householders.

The situation was made worse when charging was introduced at Yatton Station car park last year.

Some commuters chose to save their cash and drive to Nailsea where they could leave their car for free and pick up the train.

The cost of purchasing the land and carrying out the necessary work to create the car park extension will be met out of the authority's Joint Local Transport Plan fund.

Commuters using the car park welcomed the news it could be expanded.

Student Stefanie Walters, aged 21, from Clevedon, uses the train to get to from Nailsea to Bath University twice a week where she is studying sports science.

Miss Walters said: "If you are not at the station by 8am there is no chance of getting a parking space.

"If I don't get a space, I have to park in the nearby roads, which understandably, local residents get annoyed about.

"I used to park at Yatton station, but when they introduced charging, I drove to Nailsea and picked up the train because the car park is free."

Louise Shaw from Portishead is a solicitor and uses the car park regularly to take the train to appointments across the country.

Mrs Shaw said: "I use the station car park about once a fortnight and it is always packed and it's difficult to get a space.

"But the fact there is a car park here is ideal and the station is used by lots of people from the surrounding towns and villages.

"At a time when people are being encouraged to use public transport, I think it is a good idea to expand the car park. I wouldn't mind paying, as long as it was not too expensive."

North Somerset Council deputy leader and executive member for planning and highways, Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, said: "I have instructed officers to negotiate terms for the purchase of land to extend the existing car park to a total of 320 spaces.

"This land forms part of a property at Station Road and we are in discussions with the owner.

"Terms have not yet been agreed but we have valued the site and a likely purchase price."

Cllr Ap Rees said currently it cost the council £25,000 each year to maintain free parking at the station.