An original Great Western Railway bench has been renovated as part of work to enhance Colwall railway station.

The work is being funded by the Beyond the Hills Community Station Partnership (CSP) and Colwall Parish Council.

The CSP is a volunteer organisation supported by West Midlands Railway with the aim of improving the profile of travel by rail and its valuable association with the community.

It focuses on community projects and environment work at Ledbury and Colwall stations.

READ MORE: Plan to bring back these two lost Herefordshire railway stations

The work on the bench, to a high standard, was undertaken by Steve Maund, Colwall Parish Council maintenance contractor and lengthsman.

The next stage at Colwall is the renovation of the ‘quiet’ seating area just off the station entrance.

Once foliage has been cut back and walls repaired, the area will be the home of a display cabinet tracing the history of the railway and its associations with the community.

The CSP is also funding a book by the Colwall Village Society on ‘Colwall & Its Railway Station’. 

At Ledbury station, the former cabin ticket office is being converted into a community and transport gallery.

Volunteers from Ledbury in Bloom, which has won gold awards from Heart of England in Bloom for 15 years in a row, have also been planting flower beds at the station.

READ MORE: Community group aims to boost railways in Ledbury and Colwall

The group has previously said it wants to explore the possibility of a link bus from Ledbury Station to take visitors to the Big Apple Cider Festival at Putley and to Much Marcle in the autumn.

Herefordshire’s Big Economic Plan includes proposals to open two new railway stations in the county.

The plan proposed exploring “the case for reopening Pontrilas station”, which retains much of its infrastructure despite closing in 1958.

It also talks about developing the case for investment in a new Hereford Parkway Station at Rotherwas.