THE railway station at Ellesmere Port has scooped an award at the 16th Cheshire Best Kept Stations Awards Evening.

It received the 'Roberts Bakery Award” for the Most Improved Station in the county.

The gongs were presented before 160 guests at The Grange Theatre, Hartford, Northwich by Professor Garfield Southall, Dean of Science and Engineering at the University of Chester and Chair of North Cheshire Community Rail Partnership.

The evening, on Tuesday February 5, was attended by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire and twelve mayors from boroughs, town and parishes across Cheshire.

In his closing remarks to the Awards, the Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire, David Briggs, gave special thanks to those stations that had commemorated the First World War as many of our soldiers left for the war from their local railway station and never returned.

On presenting the awards, Professor Southall said: “It has been a great pleasure for me to present these awards this evening and it has been an eye-opener to see how much volunteering there is on our railway stations in Cheshire.

“My thanks go to all those Friends Groups and rail staff that make our stations lovely gateways to our cities, towns and villages across the county."

Mark Barker, chair of Cheshire Best Kept Stations, added: “Tonight's Awards Evening is a celebration and a thank you for all the volunteers, community groups and rail staff who do so much to brighten up our stations in Cheshire.”

At Ellesmere Port, the judges commended the bright, clean booking office with historical photographs and the artwork on the platform.

The flower beds by the entrance and on the main platform were also well cared for, they said.

Marina Farey, Community Rail Officer for the North Cheshire Lines, said: “Well done to the North Cheshire Rail Users Group volunteers.

“The volunteers and Merseyrail staff at Ellesmere Port Railway Station have been recognised with the Roberts Bakery Award for the most improved station in Cheshire.

“The welcoming booking office and the flower beds at this station are a credit to all those involved.”

Sally Ralston, corporate social responsibility manager for Merseyrail, said: “We are so proud that the efforts of the teams of volunteers who work across the winning stations have been recognised by these awards.

“At Ellesmere Port, the volunteers have planted and tended to colourful, flower beds as well as installing artwork created by local schools.

“We hope their award success will encourage other residents and members of the community across the Merseyrail network, who are interested in getting involved with these schemes, to come forward and contact my team as these projects can help to make a real difference."

Further details can be found at www.bestkeptstations.org.uk