UNION chiefs have slammed proposals to close ticket offices at six railway stations in south Essex.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association said the “hit list”, which appears in a Department for Tran-sport cost-cutting report, could mean the loss of several jobs at smaller stations.

The report, by Sir Roy McNulty, recommends replacing several ticket offices with unmanned machines.

The changes would be made at rail stations which generate less than £1million a year.

In south Essex, that would mean the closure of ticket offices at Shoebury, Prittlewell, East Tilbury, West Horndon, Ockendon and Chafford Hundred stations.

Union leader Gerry Doherty said: “Not only are unmanned stations less secure, tickets bought from machines are usually more expensive.”