MONDAY has been set for a summit meeting between concerned commuters and rail bosses.

Huddersfield Railway Station users are worried that modernisation plans by TransPennine, the train operator who runs the station, could rob them of their traditional tea bar.

Tea bar bosses Ian and Wendy Smith have been served with a six-month notice to shut up shop - despite having been in place for nearly 14 years.

There has been a refreshment venue in the same place on the station since about 1851.

Rail chiefs want to replace the buffet with a new facility and extend the waiting room.

Now worried commuters are rallying around Ian and Wendy to preserve the traditional tea room, which includes a listed bar.

They will be at a meeting at 4.30pm at the station on May 16.

Evan Green-Hughes, 52, from Brockholes, said he had used the service for 40 years.

He added: "I still go in regularly because it's a great place.

"It's a nice old fashioned place which has great customer service.

"It has its own character - it has been there for a very long time."

Mr Green-Hughes said he believed commuters would rebel if the tea bar closed.

He said: "I can't imagine that many people will be happy when the cost of a cup of tea goes up from 90p to who knows what at the coffee stand in the station."

He added: "It's an ordinary people's business which we should be encouraging, not slapping around the face."

But David Mallender from TransPennine said plans for the railway station included a host of changes including better waiting rooms, lifts and CCTV on platforms for passenger safety.

He added: "We have served a notice on the couple who currently run the tea bar.

"We need to have a vacant possession to make the changes - we can't work around them."

Mr Mallender said there were ambitious plans for the station.

He added: "In the space where the shop is at the moment we will be making a new waiting room and also a buffet."

Mr Mallender confirmed the new buffet would be put out to tender.

Ian and Wendy Smith said they were unable to comment due to discussions with their legal team.