Tory minister tweets anger over "dirtiest train" she ever travelled on

A Conservative minister has taken to Twitter to criticise a train company over a 'dirty' toilet, 'no water supply' and 'heavily-stained' carpets on her rail journey from Burton to Birmingham.

Anna Soubry tweeted that her commute with CrossCountry was on the "dirtiest train I've ever travelled on" with the hashtag "#lettingpeopledown".

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She wrote: "Whole train. It's shameful. Can I suggest a Hoover and water supply in loo as urgent priority.

"Will send photos take urgent action pls."

In another tweet, she included the Twitter handle of rail minister Claire Perry, writing: "Please make sure passengers get clean trains - now @claire4devizes"

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CrossCountry replied to Soubry saying: "Rest assured this is something we're working on. I've just checked and the train you were on is yet to undergo refurbishment.

"Our trains will undergo a clean at the terminus & also an intensive clean once out of service at the depot."

In a final tweet to the train firm, she wrote: "The 10.21 from Burton was filthy so best check ur practises match ur PR statements!"

Train companies can be fined for having dirty toilets and are being given tougher targets for customer service.

A Department for Transport spokesperson told the Daily Mail that "individual services are a matter for the operator in the first instance".