A BRAVE Port couple who lost their daughter to heart failure at just 22 have told of their pride at her legacy of improving facilities for disabled people.

Stephanie Hurrell, who had battled serious heart problems her whole life, passed away in 2020 and her parents Angela and Andrew and 19-year-old sister Jacqueline are still coming to terms with their devastating loss.

They say they have taken some comfort from news that a major project is to take place to upgrade access to Port Glasgow Railway Station, after their daughter, who used a wheelchair, fought for the work to be done.

Stephanie first raised the issue of access at the town's train station several years ago when she and her dad met ScotRail bosses along with community councillors to show them the practical difficulties that she and many other people had while travelling to and from the station.

Now her campaigning is set to pay off - with plans in place to demolish a footbridge and create a new modern one with lifts alongside a new ramped entrance.

Elevators will also be installed on the station platforms to make them more accessible for people with disabilities.

Angela, 49, believes her daughter would be very proud that she had made such a lasting difference for other vulnerable people.

Angela, who works in M&S in the town, said the last two years have been a very difficult time for the family.

The family, of West Woodside Avenue, visited the graveside on November 13 with flowers and let off pink balloons to mark what would have been Stephanie's 25th birthday.

She said: "We miss Stephanie terribly and we go up to the cemetery as much as we can.

"I think it’s great that the train station is finally getting upgraded.

"We are just so proud of our Stephanie as her determination and thoughtfulness to help others has finally made this happen.

"I think it is a wonderful legacy that Stephanie is still helping others, it's just really sad that she can’t be here to see it come to fruition.

"The work will greatly benefit anyone with a disability but it will also help the elderly and families with young children, so it will be a great asset to the whole community."

Stephanie was a well known and hugely popular person in the community and never let health problems hold her back.

She was part of the Queen's Baton relay for the Commonwealth Games and a flag bearer at the opening ceremony and also became a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament.

Her proud dad Andrew, 52, who is a support worker with Turning Point Scotland, says the family have all struggled to cope with their unbearable loss but get great support from one another.

He said: "Birthdays and Christmas are always hard, but family and work keep us going."

The family met up with community councillors Tommy Rodger and Anne Ross at the station, with plans for the work there poised to finally come to fruition.

Mr Rodger said: "Six years ago, Stephanie informed us that she travelled regularly to Glasgow and that on disembarking on the return journey or to leave the station, she had to tackle a steep pathway up Highholm Avenue, then go down onto Balfour Street, along Brown Street and up Princes Street just to get to her original starting point."

Stephanie and her dad demonstrated the problem during a visit to the station with ScotRail representative John Yellowtrees.

Tommy said: "Mr Yellowtrees was shocked by what he experienced and he sympathised with Stephanie and other wheelchair users."

Anne added: "Everyone knew Stephanie, she was such a lovely girl and we will always be thankful to her for raising this issue.

"We also want to thank her parents too."

Anne now hopes that a plaque could be placed in the station as an appropriate tribute to Stephanie and her campaigning, or that the new bridge could be named after her.

Angela said: "I think a plaque would be a lovely idea but it's not my call.

"It's nice that Stephanie is still helping other disabled people and other people in the community.

"She had a big personality, nothing stopped her.

"She was a force of nature."

The station revamp is to be jointly funded by Network Rail and SPT and it's hoped work will begin soon.

Tommy said: "The funding has been approved in principle and we will get our new railway bridge, with lifts, very soon, with work possibly starting in the new year."