FURIOUS residents are set to form a picket line outside Hockley train station today as they protest plans to close “vital” ticket offices.

Vicki Ford, 70, has been living in the village for five years, and the proximity of the shops, doctors and the station has made her “fall in love” with the place.

However, she has been left raging by the plans to close the ticket office which she believes is vital to residents in the area.

It comes as Greater Anglia announced plans to shut ticket offices at all 54 stations on the network, including Hockley, Southend Victoria and Billericay, to shift to a “new model of retailing” to provide a more “modern and flexible service” for customers.

Mrs Ford said: “When I heard the news that my station’s ticket office could be closing, I could’ve thrown something.

“It made me feel so angry because every time I’ve used the station, the lovely staff have helped plan my routes and make travelling on the train simple for me  especially as I get confused with the self-service machines and the app.

“The thought of that ticket office not being there anymore really upsets me and I don’t know what I’ll do without them.”

After the announcement made by the rail firm, she has written to Greater Anglia and MP Mark Francois, but has only received “vague responses”.

Feeling “powerless”, she has decided to protest outside of the station.

She said: “We have got to do something about this.

“I’m going to be outside from 9am to 7pm. If anyone wants to join me and support keeping the rail ticket offices open, please come and join me.”

Under the new proposals, station colleagues would undertake a “new, more flexible role” as customer hosts.

They will be continuing to provide advice about fares, and supporting customers with other queries and accessibility needs, rather than being confined to the ticket office.

One person that will be joining Mrs Ford is Hockley councillor Adrian Eves, who says the need for a ticket office is “vital” for those who cannot use the “confusing” self-service machines.

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “The station proposals put forward are aimed at providing a more modern and flexible service for our customers.

"They reflect the more convenient ways in which passengers are looking to buy their tickets and check travel information.

“Station colleagues would undertake a new, more flexible role - bringing staff closer to customers.

"Passenger assistance arrangements would continue as they do now, from first to last trains, but with additional mobile teams to give greater flexibility in providing assistance across the network.

“More details, including information about each station covered by the proposals, can be found on our website.

"Any comments or feedback should be provided to Transport Focus, or where appropriate, London TravelWatch, before the end of the public consultation process on Wednesday, July 26.”