Heritage campaigners are celebrating after securing "comprehensive" listed status for a railway station.

Until now, only parts of Leicester station – built by Charles Trubshaw in 1893 – have been protected with a grade two listing by English Heritage.

The front of the building looking on to London Road and Conduit Street were added to the heritage watchdog's statutory list in the 1970s.

However, other features of architectural and historical interest – such as the clock tower, bridge parapet, courtyard and gateways once used by carriages but now used by cars and taxis – were excluded.

That has now changed following a 17-month campaign by Leicester Civic Society.

Chairman Stuart Bailey said: "Charles Trubshaw's magnificent building was originally threatened with demolition to build a multi-storey office block and shopping mall in 1973.

"These proposals were thwarted when the civic society succeeded in getting the building listed.

"The first listing, however, was an emergency measure and only specified the front wall to London Road and Conduit Street.

"We are delighted that English Heritage has responded positively to our application, even though this has involved 17 months of work.

"The station is an historic building that symbolises our city to so many visitors.

"The addition of the whole of Trubshaw's surviving work, the entire porte-cochere, the clock tower, the frontage to Station Street and the bridge parapet is a major achievement and one of which we are proud."

It is a criminal offence to demolish, alter or extend a listed building without special listed building consent, which involves meeting rigorous criteria.

Tony Calladine, heritage protection team leader for English Heritage, said: "We are pleased to be able to better reflect the areas of architectural and historic interest at Leicester Station by revising the list description and reaffirming that the station should be listed at grade two."

A spokesman for Network Rail, which is responsible for the station building, said: "We are happy to work with English Heritage to protect our shared history while maintaining a modern, reliable and, most importantly, safe railway."

Work on a £10 million scheme, announced last year, to revamp lifts, waiting rooms, toilets, ticket offices, lighting and CCTV at the station is continuing.

However, the future of a proposed £150 million redevelopment of the area and the station, which would include offices, shops, bars and car parking, is unclear.

It follows the Government's decision to scrap regional development agencies, including Emda in the East Midlands, which was to provide funding.