A radical plan to shift Enfield Town train station down the tracks is being considered by council leaders.

The long-term plan would see the station moved 100 yards back from its present location to clear the way for a bus terminus, making the site a central transport hub.

The current bus terminus stands in Little Park Gardens to the west of the town. But the council has snapped up the site of the former Enfield Arms pub for an estimated £1million with the switch in mind.

Council leader Mike Rye said: "At the moment we have a fairly grotty bus terminus at the other end of the Town and a train station at the other end which is servicable and usable. It makes sense to have a single interchange where everything is in one place."

Cllr Rye added: "Sometimes people just see the council selling things, but we are also trying to aquire land in the long-term and it's another example of the council being pro-active.

"It will not be easy and it will not be straightforward but we think it's an objective worth pursuing."

Any project to move the station down the tracks would invlove extensive negotiation with the train operator One and landowner Railtrack, said Cllr Rye.

"If it happened in six years time it would be ideal, but we are probably looking at ten years," he added.

An initial proposal will be put forward to the Government and rail bosses once a property review of Enfield Town has been completed.