ONE man's focus on a secret spy camera has led to it being removed from Tweedbank Railway Station.

Eagle-eyed Mike Cossar estimates that there are 55 fixed CCTV cameras in the grounds of the railway terminus - all filming within the law.

He also counted a further two adjustable dome cameras.

But he believed a further camera positioned above the bus stance and focussed on the car park entrance was flouting legislation.

The 47-year-old artist from Galashiels was incensed that no signage, which is a legal requirement for CCTV filming, was displayed on or close to the entrance camera.

And he took his fight to the rail authorities.

Mike told us: "Thousands of local residents have had their personal details linked with number plates and their faces recorded in a very covert manner, disregarding totally the Data Protection Act.

"I have been walking my dog almost daily through the station grounds since the opening of the line.

"I was surprised, from day one, by the large number of CCTV cameras deployed there.

"I counted 55 fixed cameras, two adjustable dome cameras and one black one above the bus stop pointing towards the road entrance/exit.

"I assumed, at the time, it was there to monitor the buses. There was no signage in relation to this camera.

"There was, and still is, correct signage for the regular CCTV.

"Last month I decided to have a much closer look and found out it is a multi lane Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera fitted with 4G data communications."

ANPR technology monitors passing vehicles and checks registration numbers against national databases.

Mr Cossar contacted the station manager and Scotrail, but nobody could enlighten him on the camera's purpose.

Former council leader David Parker, who is an elected member for Tweedbank, did have more joy in his efforts to establish the entrance camera's function.

In a response to Mr Cossar, councillor Parker stated: "(I) can advise that the ANPR camera at Tweedbank Station is being operated on behalf of the British Transport Police and has been deployed there for operational reasons.

"I am advised that the camera is a temporary one and will be removed in the future."

British Transport Police confirmed the camera belonged to them, but claimed it had been turned off and was due for removal.

Kay Calderwood-McKay, the acting information governance manager at the British Transport Police, said: "I have been advised that the camera was installed with appropriate signage in place.

"The camera was turned off approximately three months after the installation; British Transport Police has been unable to remove the camera due to the fact it has been wired into the station's electrical equipment and it can only be removed by having approved access from the station owner."

The surveillance camera was finally removed from Tweedbank Railway Station last weekend.

Mr Cossar added: "I have a big sister, don't want or need a big brother."