A SPELLING mistake has led to hundreds of railway timetables being issued referring to "Worcester Scrub Hill" station.

The blunder comes as preparations are fine-tuned to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Shrub Hill, which has undergone a facelift this year.

"I called in at Gloucester railway station to collect a timetable and was amused to see the front page," said Evening News reader Mike Goode.

"Clearly, Central Trains accepts the need for a clean-up - or maybe it's a case of 'washful' thinking!"

The pocket-sized summer timetable had been issued by Wales & West Trains and Central Trains to stations across the Midlands and south Wales.

A spokesman for Central Trains blamed the error on the Cardiff-based rail operator.

"Someone in our office here noticed there was a mistake, but we weren't given a copy of the leaflet before it was printed and hadn't been able to point it out," he said.

"It's Wales & West's fault. The mistake is a shame because the station at Shrub Hill isn't a scrubby place - it's looking very nice now that it's been refurbished."

John Morris, public relations manager for Wales & West Trains, congratulated eagle-eyed Mr Goode.

"Full marks for observation," he said.

"We'll offer him a complimentary ticket on any return journey made with Wales & West as a result."

Mr Morris said the error had been corrected in later editions of the leaflet, but was unable to say how many had gone out featuring the phrase "Scrub Hill".

Draft versions of the winter timetables - due to be distributed at the end of September - have also had to be amended, Mr Morris added.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, October 15, a "gala day" is planned to celebrate the history of Shrub Hill railway station, which in 1850, was the terminus of the railway line from Bristol.

Central Trains has said "television celebrities" will be among those invited to join in the celebrations.