A MINIATURE railway has put out an appeal for volunteers after announcing two trial re-openings.

Thompson Park Railway is gearing up to welcome visitors this Sunday and on Sunday, April 25.

The site, which is operated by the Burnley and Pendle Miniature Railway Society, remained closed over the Christmas period, having been forced to cancel their annual Santa Special event due to lockdown measures. 

Honorary secretary of the railway society, Mike Bailey said: “A lot of our members are in my age bracket which is about 70, so a lot of them were self isolating anyway.

“We’re quite looking forward to re-opening. Members of the public, even while we’ve been doing work here over the past few weeks, have been coming up to us saying ‘why aren’t you open’, ‘when are you opening?’

"But, we are in desperate need of volunteers, it would be nice to get some younger people, probably 50 per cent of our membership is in excess of 70 years of age, so slowly but surely we’re all dropping off the edge.”

Set up by a group of friends in 1990, they are looking for volunteers aged over 16 who can help with a range of tasks ­including selling tickets, doing joinery, painting, cleaning locomotives, gardening and helping visitors.

Call Mr Bailey on 07957 714148.