BIRKENHEAD’S refurbished Hamilton Square station was officially re-opened on Friday.

Wirral Council leader Cllr Phil Davies cut the ceremonial ribbon and brought to a close work on Network Rail’s £4m, six-month redevelopment.

He unveiled a commemorative artwork depicting advertisements from the 1950s discovered during the refurbishment at the end of last year.

The new-look station features improved platforms and tunnel areas, new flooring, brighter lighting and better passenger information.

Councillor Davies described the project as a “great investment for Hamilton Square.”

He said: “It’s great we’ve now got a really good facility like this in Birkenhead.

“It’s been excellent to see Merseytravel, Network Rail and Merseyrail work in partnership on this refurbishment, which continues the significant investment to improve station facilities across the railway network in the Liverpool City Region."

Alan Chaplin, Merseyrail’s interim managing director, said: “Hamilton Square is an impressive, historic building, but was badly in need of a makeover.

“Customers will see that it is now sharper and more modern, while some of the original features have been preserved."

The Globe asked some of the first commuters to use to revamped station for their views: Michael Jarvis, 27, an office worker from Wallasey said: "It's been closed for a while, added a bit of time to the journey each day, but it's great that it's reopened.

"It looks very new, it was a much-needed and long overdue refurbishment."

Michelle McNulty, 48, from Wallasey, works at Remploy next door to the station.

She said: "It's wonderful to have it open again, looks nice inside. Its closure added about 40 minutes to my journey each day."

Computer consultant Warren Wignall, from Dingle, said: "It looks really good but workmen are still putting the finishing touches to it so it's still a bit dusty.

"I thought six months was a bit ambitious to get the work done but it looks fine."

While the platform and underground areas of Hamilton Square station have been completed, there is still work to finish in the concourse areas and entrance.

Work on the final stage will take place outside of station opening hours and will be finished by early-summer.