Campaigners are calling on a train company to “take care of its station”.

The Mill Hill Residents Association is also furious about the “dull and dreary” state of Mill Hill Broadway, which they say is littered with rubbish and almost impossible for disabled people to use.

Hundreds have backed plans for step-free access to help those with wheelchairs, mothers with pushchairs and people with heavy luggage.

John Gillett, of Milespit Hill, Mill Hill, said: “The station is in a terrible mess. We are angry about the general grotty feeling you get when you’re here.

“It’s not a nice introduction to an otherwise lovely area. I bought a group of people here and they were horrified by this, it was rather embarrassing.”

Residents association chairman Richard Logue said: “We want Mill Hill to be a town we are proud of and it starts at the station.”

The long-running campaign for step-free access is supported by Hendon MP Matthew Offord.

Bill Taylor, of Lyndhurst Avenue, Mill Hill, says campaigners have suggested a number of options to help create lifts at the station.

The 71-year-old said: “It’s a nightmare, and very difficult for people with buggies, wheelchairs and pushchairs. People will be put off from coming here. That’s not the impression we want to create.

“There are 39 steps in this station in total which is a lot, and we are upset that Mill Hill hasn’t even been considered for step-free access.”

The group believe the existing lift shaft, which is out of use, could be reinstated from the bus garage level to platform one and onto a bridge, with lifts to each platform.

A second idea is to use the existing tunnel to form lift shafts to each platform.

But they say the simplest idea is to run a bridge across three platforms with lifts down to each, which could be linked with a car park.

Resident Peter Keeley, who is also supporting the campaign, added: “The facilities here are appalling. We know there is a need for this.

“People have to take their luggage up countless steps and that can be very difficult.”

Alexandra Palace station, which serves the same line, is scheduled to get step free access – even though it only has 1.5 million visitors a year compared to Mill Hill’s 2.5 million.

But with more than 5,000 people over the age of 65 and 1,330 blue badge holders in the Mill Hill area, campaigners say it is time Mill Hill Broadway was considered.

They have also suggested creating a step-free entrance from the Bunns Lane car park, as well as installing a ticket office in the area.

George Jones, a former UKIP council candidate, said: “Even the most healthy and able bodied passengers have problems using this station.

“Disabled people have no access to public transport. That’s not fair.”

In a statement, Govia Thameslink said: “Govia Thameslink very much supports the campaign for step-free access at Mill Hill Broadway but we recognise the many difficulties the site presents for this project which will make it an expensive scheme for central government to fund.”