A TRAIN station bakery which has enticed Royalty is set to expand to make use of a disused Victorian loo.

The Lovingly Artisan Bakery will move from its current premises outside Oxenholme station to a converted toilet room on one of the interchange's platforms, after becoming a runaway success and tempted the likes of Prince Charles.

The bakery originally opened as a production business but turned into a retail outlet after travellers - including the Prince - began turning up on its doorstep following the smell of the baking bread.

"All the baking smells were wafting out and down the platform and people were knocking on our door to ask if they could buy bread!" explained owner, Aidan Monks.

"In our first week Prince Charles was on an unofficial visit and he stayed and talked for about 15 minutes about local food."

The business has since become involved in a Virgin Trains initiative which has seen its products served at both a pop-up event in the station and in the first class lounge of a train travelling between Oxenholme and Carlisle.

Now Mr Monks is planning a permanent move into the station in the new year, when he will bring back to life a former public convenience.

He explained that the room had not been used for around 40 years, but has been converted sympathetically to ensure some of the original features are maintained to match the 'quirky' nature of the bakery.

Once in his new premises Mr Monks hopes his locally-inspired creations will make Oxenholme a 'foodie destination'.

"We want to provide an artisan food offering," he said. "We're very food aware in Cumbria and I think a foodie destination would really go down well.

"It's a main line station and it's where all the international tourists get off and travel into the Lake District but at the moment there's no real experience for them at all."

He also hopes to take on more staff, to work alongside the existing five bakers and two shop staff, and will extend his opening hours so they coincide with the first and last trains of each day.

He also hopes his creations could eventually be sold in Virgin Trains' on-board shops and in the first class lounge at London Euston.