If necessary we will sit down in front of the bulldozers

Ron Yates, campaigner

Reacting to her decision, Ron Yates, one of those who want to retain the bus station, told BBC News Online: "Architecturally it is a wonderful building.

"It is a crown jewel of Preston and it is central for Lancashire - you can go to Scotland or London. The number of passengers going through the station is millions every year.

"If the bus station goes, the car park above it goes too, and this is very well used especially at night."

Future plans

"We still have a campaign to save it - if necessary we will sit down in front of the bulldozers."

In a joint statement, the leaders of the main political parties at Preston Council said: "We are very pleased... we always knew we had a strong case and the Department of Media and Sport have backed the council's view that the bus station was not of special architectural or historic merit.

"Listing the bus station would have tied our hands and made it very difficult to improve bus station facilities to modern-day standards.

"We can plan for the future with renewed confidence."

More specific proposals for the redevelopment of the Tithebarn area of Preston will now be considered .