THE dedication of volunteers at the Severn Valley Railway's Arley Station has been celebrated with a plaque marking their coveted heritage rail industry award win.

The station team at Arley was last year named as winner of the 'Stagecoach Volunteers Award 2016' by the National Railway Heritage Awards (NRHA) committee, which praised volunteers' outstanding dedication to maintaining and preserving the station.

To recognise the achievement, John Ellis, chairman of the NRHA visited the Railway during its recent Autumn Steam Gala to join volunteers in unveiling a special plaque at Arley, marking the accolade.

The awards, announced at the end of last year, also recognised the efforts of Bewdley station staff, who were highly commended by the NRHA in the 'Great Western Craft Skills Award' category for their work on the major restoration of the unique island platform canopy of platforms two and three - which began in winter 2011 and has recently been completed.

Clare Gibbard, the SVR's marketing and communications manager, said: "We are delighted that our volunteers at both Arley and Bewdley have been recognised in this way and this plaque is a reminder to us all of their continual hard work and dedication they display, making these stations each popular destinations for the thousands of visitors who travel with us every year."