EXTRA security measures at airports, railway stations, ports and shopping centres are a good thing but should have been introduced years ago.

That was one reaction to Gordon Brown's announcement of new precautions to stop terrorists hitting another high-profile target in the UK.

Passengers could be searched and their bags screened at the country's busiest railway stations. Barriers to stop car bombs would be built and vehicle exclusion zones set up outside the 250 busiest stations, as well as at airport terminals and shopping centres.

Bournemouth East's Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, whose brother was killed in the Bali bombing of 2002, said: "Why only now are we looking at tighter border controls, at improved security on our transport system?" But he also called for more understanding of the terrorist "mindset".

Mid-Dorset and North Poole MP Annette Brooke welcomed a relaxation of the rules on hand luggage at airports. She also welcomed more security at railway stations but added: "It would have to be well thought out if it's not going to cause utter chaos."

Desmond Swayne, Conservative MP for New Forest West, said he was "broadly supportive". "Huge prestige targets like international airports and railway stations have got to be protected. You can't protect everything but you can pick off the most obvious targets where the threat would be greatest," he said.

At Bournemouth station yesterday, passenger Andrew Ramsey from Bournemouth said: "It's over-reaction; we are going way over the top."

Mary Williams from Swanage said: "I think security should be stepped up at the larger stations like Birmingham where I don't feel so safe. At places like Bournemouth measures are sufficient."

Jenny Pearce said: "I travel by rail a lot and think security at train stations has already been stepped up.

"What concerns me more than security is that the trains are so congested at peak times."

Clive Lane, port manager for Poole Harbour Commissioners, said: "It is a positive move by the government. Ports have got to come into line with other transport centres."

Sally Windsor, director of communications at Bournemouth Airport, said: "Our security at Bournemouth Airport is so strict anyway and the building work currently being completed is all part of our re-development to increase security measures."

Passenger Derek Anderson from Christchurch said: "I never feel there is a problem at Bournemouth Airport and I'm a regular traveller from here. But it's good to see that security is already being tightened before these new crackdowns were even announced."

But Phil Davies from Bournemouth told us: "If they do any more then the whole of Britain will end up being like George Orwell's 1984. It looks like Bournemouth is already increasing its security levels anyway so what more could they possibly do to protect people?"