Finsbury Park station’s new National Rail ticket gates will begin to take shape next week.

Boxes will appear at the top of stairs on platforms 5 and 6 on Valentine’s Day - and later on platforms 1 and 2 = beneath which the gates will be built.

First Capital Connect announced the scheme late last year as a method of improving security and reducing fare evasion - and the gates will be up and running by April.

They will allow customers to touch in and out with Oyster, as well as using paper tickets.

British Transport Police are backing the scheme because most criminals do not buy tickets.

First Capital Connect customer services director Michelle Smart said: “These new gates will improve security for our customers at Finsbury Park and recoup some of the �400 million a year the rail industry loses in fare evasion every year.”