WORK is advancing well on a project that will given Newent a railway station with a canal going through the middle of it, instead of rails.

The Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust wants to restore the 34 miles canal between Hereford and Gloucester, and the focus is now on the Newent Station site, part of the old "daffodil line" which followed the route of the canal, when the canal was abandoned.

The railway line itself was scrapped in the 1960s, due to cuts, but the Canal Trust wants to see not only a restored station and platforms, but a restored stretch of canal, as a tribute to both transport revolutions.

Trust spokesman, Brian Fox said: "The station has become the focus of much or our work and the clearance of the old station platforms is continuing."

The clearance has thrown up a few bonuses, including an ancient bench which has been sold on to an antique shop owner, to help raise funds for the ongoing project.

Mr Fox added: "Another item which is now more visible is an old railway footbridge which will eventually span the canal here. It has been lying in the undergrowth next to the platform for many years."

This is a welcome find, given that work on actually restoring the platforms will commence early next year.

Mr Fox said: "How long will it be before the bridge is spanning the latest restored stretch of the canal? Watch this space."

Th Trust has already carried out successful restoration of canal stretches at Oxenhall, not far from Newent, and it is also creating a canal basin at Dymock.

When completed, the restored canal will also pass through Ledbury.