A Sussex MP has demanded the new rail minister hold crisis talks between Southern and the RMT union.

Bexhill and Battle MP Huw Merriman spoke out as the Paul Maynard appeared before the Commons Transport Select Committee in his first official appearance as rail minister.

Passengers have faced months of disruption on Southern routes following a dispute between the company and the RMT union.

Mr Maynard revealed that the DfT will consider brokering talks in a bid to resolve the industrial dispute which has contributed to the number of delays and cancellations.

Select committee member Mr Merriman told the Tory MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys that the union wants guarantees from the Government over the long-term job security of guards - which Southern cannot provide past the end of its current franchise.

He said it was "gobsmacking" that the DfT has not held talks with both parties recently, and called for it to sit down with them and "be part of that effort to bring a resolution".

Mr Maynard replied: "I certainly would not rule that out.

"I will take advice and, where we can, seek to do that."

Mr Merriman, who uses Southern services to commute to Parliament from his Bexhill and Battle constituency, responded: "I very much hope that you will because I have to say, until you do, I can't see any end in sight and this is going seriously wrong."

Mr Maynard began his first appearance in front of the committee as rail minister by saying the current level of service on Southern routes is "unacceptable".

He told MPs that since being appointed on Monday he has looked at the issue in "very great detail", meeting Charles Horton, chief executive of Southern's owner Govia Thameslink Railway, and his counterpart at Network Rail, Mark Carne.

"It's clear that we are discussing here one of the most stressed parts of the railway network," he said.

"We're having what is almost a perfect storm of circumstances."

Long-term disruption caused by the upgrade of London Bridge station has been compounded by staff shortages, increased sickness levels and industrial action over plans to change the role of conductors.