A disused unit inside a train station has been revamped as a temporary pop-up shop to "mark the end of a British railway era".

Highams Park is one of 23 stations to transfer from Abellio Greater Anglia to Transport for London's London Overground network on Sunday (May 31). 

The unit, once part of the station's Victorian waiting room, was used as a newspaper kiosk during the early morning rush-hour, until a few years ago when it closed.

It is understood the historic station built in 1873 is the busiest to be taken over by TfL with over 1.6million annual entries and exits. 

After a spring clean and a lick of paint, the unit was opened by community group, the Highams Park Society, yesterday (May 26) and will remain open from 9.30am to 6pm until Saturday (May 30). 

Created as a hub for everything Highams Park, the shop promotes and sells cards and illustrations from local artists, historic photographs of the area, and tuck shop sweets on behalf of the 17th Waltham Forest Boys' Brigade and Girls' Association. 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Mr Christian cleaned and painted the "good, solid unit" before yesterday's opening 

Chairman of the Highams Park Society, Sandeep Christian, said: "I spoke to the line manager and he gave me the keys. 

"Our focus is to show our relationship with the station and the garden as it is the most important feature of Highams Park. 

"We also wanted to offer a space for local craftspeople to showcase their work and mark the end of a British railway era.

"I am looking forward to TfL enhancing the period features of the station."

Commuters and businesses welcomed the pop-up shop. 

Greg Howell, Highams Park Planning Group (HPPG) member and owner of the station's 'Coffee in the Park' kiosk, said: "It is great. 

"It's nice to have someone in there at last. 

"It has been empty for at least two years and everyone has been saying how it is about time it was put into use."

Commuter Jamie Jay, of Winchester Road, said: "It's a nice thing to do all round. He (Sandeep) doesn't do it for the doe, he does it for the community."   

The Society officially adopted the station in 2006, taking on maintenance responsibilities for the garden, which has now been entered for TfL's upcoming Overground and Bloom Awards in July. 

The HPPG is in talks with TfL to extend the pop-up shop until the shop local day in Highams Park on June 6.