Transport ministers have given a boost to the regeneration of Corby by arranging for it to be equipped with a train station.

The franchise document for the East Midlands Main Line service, published this week, says prospective operators must include the provision of an hourly service to Corby in their bid.

The former steel centre is the largest town in Britain to be without a station - even though trains pass through it.

A spokesperson for the north Northamptonshire urban regeneration company said: "This is crucial to the regeneration and transformation of Corby."

The franchise document says the successful franchisees will be expected to provide a service between nearby Kettering and London to cope with anticipated demand for passengers, which is being fuelled by the government's growth plans for the area.