VOLUNTEERS are hoping to make a railway station in Hyndburn one of the best kept on the East Lancashire line.

Rotarians have launched a programme to clean up Church and Oswaldtwistle station and have already planted thousands of crocus bulbs to add some spring colour.

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Members of the Church and Oswaldtwistle branch of Rotary will clear the platform of weeds and are also looking to clean and paint the entrances to both platforms.

In the spring, begonias will be planted in both new and existing planters.

The club is working with Northern Rail, the East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership and Oswaldtwistle Mills.

Its president Ian McTurk said: “Our club is fully committed in improving the appearance of the railway station and I am pleased we are getting many volunteers from our members to carry out this work.

“Our crocus planting of 5,000 bulbs in the local area includes many planted around the approaches to the station.”

Station manager Chris Ingham, said: “We are delighted to be working closely with the Rotary Club and the local volunteers to improve the station environment and platforms for our customers and the community.”

Brian Haworth, Community Rail Lancashire’s Friends of Stations’ co-ordinator, added: “It’s great to have a group keen to get involved and we will support them in their efforts to tidy up and look after their local station.”

The railway station is just over three miles east of Blackburn on the East Lancashire Line, which is currently operated by Northern Rail.

Sited in the middle of Church, the station had fallen into disrepair before it was modernised in 2005.

Changes included the introduction of CCTV, a public address system, improved fencing, improved seating, and station rebranding.

From Monday to Saturday, it is served with an hourly train to Blackburn, Preston, and Blackpool South, and another to Accrington, Burnley Central, and Colne.

On Sundays, a two-hourly service is operated.

The next station on the line, Accrington, has also undergone a major facelift in recent years, not least with a new ticket office.

To get involved with the clean-up and to help at the station for two to three hours on a Saturday morning, contact Rotary’s community chairman Aslam Mohammed on 01254 236300 or 07815 490337.