ARTWORK panels are being installed at Ledbury Railway Station to give visitors an insight into the history and heritage of the town.

The panels give information about the town’s past and its iconic buildings. They also explore the history of Ledbury’s railway connection.

The work, created by three well-known local artists, will be displayed in a glazed cabinet set within an existing brick planter. It will be a permanent feature of the station.

Gareth Davies, of public transport user group Rail and Bus for Herefordshire, is the project leader. He said he hoped the artwork, funded through West Midlands Railway’s ‘Your Community, Your Fund’ grant, would help to showcase the attractions of the town.

He said: “Ledbury is a jewel of a town. With its timbered Elizabethan black and white buildings, it’s such a lovely place to visit and just have an amble round.

“We have buildings from all eras, spectacular museums and some great examples of medieval paintings in the council offices.

“This project demonstrates that rail companies and communities can work well together for the benefit of local people.”

The artists involved are Jeanette McCulloch, Caroline Owen Thomas and Cheryl Davies. “All three are well known in Ledbury and we are using a local printer, so it really is a community project,” said Mr Davies.

He added that the group were also planning to produce brochures full of information about Ledbury’s heritage and the town trail.

The project is one of 21 community projects being supported by West Midlands Railway as part of its Customer & Communities Improvement Fund.

Fay Easton, of West Midlands Railway, said the project would help attract people from across the region with frequent direct services from Birmingham New Street.

“Ledbury is a wonderful town; with its independent shops, bars and restaurants, it’s just perfect for a day trip and the journey from Birmingham is fascinating as the train cuts through rural and urban landscapes,” she said.

“This project is also a wonderful example of working partnerships between the community and the train operating company to celebrate and raise awareness of a lovely town.”