Fed-up commuters are raising £2.5 million to pay for a new railway station themselves.

Rail users at Hassocks Station have become so sick of spending harsh winter mornings on their dilapidated platform that they have banded together to rebuild the station.

Voluntary group Hassocks Amenity Association (HAA) will hold a public exhibition on Friday detailing its redevelopment plans.

It has already commissioned architect's drawings of how the Victorian-influenced station could look.

The station's owner Network Rail said it could not afford the overhaul and could only justify maintaining the current structure, often described as "a bus shelter".

Catherine Cassidy, campaign chairman for HAA, said: "The station is falling apart and in urgent need of redevelopment, especially when the underpass floods, as it often does.

"The £2.5 million needed to fulfil the Hassocks Station project has to be largely funded by the community.

"We hope contributions from new housing will kick-start our fund-raising campaign. The rest of the money will be raised from statutory bodies, charities and from the public."

The exhibition at Hassocks Parish Council will be the culmination of three years work for the community group, desperate to replace a prefabricated station that was only built to last until 1995.

The elegant original station, built in 1840, was once the last stop on the London to Brighton line. The HAA said it wants the new platform to reflect this Victorian heritage, but with modern facilities.

With support from rail operators and local authorities, campaigners hope to have the new station built by 2010.

Councillor Colin Wilsdon, HAA chairman, said: "It is unique to have a community group coming out and trying to improve a mainline station, let alone taking the lead like this.

"Nobody would have predicted we'd have got this far even a year ago. They'd have said 'dream on'."

Mr Wilsdon said they would ask neighbours and businesses to sponsor parts of the station, even brick by brick.

Gina Field, of the HAA, said: "Within this community there are some very wealthy business people and we feel this is a worthwhile investment for anybody who has the future of the area at heart.

"Ninety per cent of the people are for the rebuilding of the station and 15 per cent of our community are commuters it's that money that keeps us an economically-viable village.

"Once we've started raising community funds, we hope we'll start loosening the purse strings of the rail companies."

Campaigners hope first to raise £750,000 to rebuild the west side of the station.

They will then look at building a pedestrian bridge with lift access for the elderly and disabled.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "If people want to redevelop the station it's fantastic but, unfortunately, it is not something we can pay for."

The exhibition will take place on Friday, from 2pm to 7pm, and on Saturday, from 9.30am to 1pm