CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after they saved an historic railway building from demolition by convincing a secretary of state to have it protected.

The building, on the station concourse, Amersham Hill, High Wycombe, is the original broad gauge railway terminus built by renowned engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and is one of only three left in the country.

However, Chiltern Railways was planning to knock the 147-year-old building down to provide more parking spaces for commuters.

Campaigners from The Risborough and District Railway Society have battled for the last 12 months to secure its survival and restoration.

After obtaining the backing of Secretary of State for Culture, Chris Smith, English Heritage has agreed to protect the building by giving it Grade 2 listing.

Francis Gomme, chairman of the railway club, said: "This is great news for the heritage of the town. Chiltern Railways applied for planning permission to bulldoze the site and extend their station car park. Chiltern Railways' proposals will only add more cars to the already congested roads.

"Wycombe District Council now have a wonderful opportunity to restore this important building as a heritage and visitor centre, an important gateway into the town centre, and a tribute to a great Victorian whose railway opened up the local furniture trade to the wider world and put High Wycombe on the map."

A spokeswoman for Chiltern Railways said the company learnt the building had been given Grade 2 listing on Monday and will now not be knocking it down.

She said: "It was part of our original plans to redevelop the station. We'll look at the plans but it's too early to decide anything."