A CHESHIRE village station has won a national photography competition.

Friends of Goostrey Station (FoGS) scooped top prize at the Community Rail Awards in Swansea.

The winning entry with the caption ‘Beavers Doing Their Best’ showed Goostrey Beavers sweeping the steps from the car park to the bridge over the railway.

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Knutsford Guardian: Goostrey Beavers sweeping steps from the car park to the bridge over the railwayGoostrey Beavers sweeping steps from the car park to the bridge over the railway (Image: FoGS)

The children regularly have their weekly meeting at the station.

Last autumn, as well as tidying the platform and steps, they planted daffodil bulbs and created artwork in the restored station building.

Knutsford Guardian: Proud volunteers at Goostrey station won second place last year for this pictureProud volunteers at Goostrey station won second place last year for this picture (Image: FoGS)

Craig Sidebotham, chairman of FoGS, said local volunteers have worked diligently for the past 10 years to ensure that passengers enjoy using Goostrey station.

Craig said: “We’re really proud that the contribution of our young people captured in this photo has been recognised by the wider community.”

Knutsford Guardian: Volunteers taking a break won the photographic category in 2019Volunteers taking a break won the photographic category in 2019 (Image: FoGS)

The award ceremony was attended by 400 guests including Mark Hopwood from Great Western Railway and Rail Minister Huw Merriman MP. FOGS members Megan Dingle and Sylvia Godfrey were delighted receive the award.

The group wishes to thank the Beavers and everyone who voted for the FoGS entry after it reached the shortlist.

Knutsford Guardian: From left, Rail Minister Huw Merriman, Jools Townsend chief executive Community Rail Network, Megan Dingle, Sylvia Godfrey and Mark Hopwood Great Western Railway at the award ceremonyFrom left, Rail Minister Huw Merriman, Jools Townsend chief executive Community Rail Network, Megan Dingle, Sylvia Godfrey and Mark Hopwood Great Western Railway at the award ceremony (Image: Community Rail)

This is the third time FoGS have had a photo shortlisted in the Community Rail competition.

In 2019, ‘Taking a break during a working party’ won the category and last year, ‘Volunteer Pride’, highlighting awards from Cheshire Best Kept Stations, achieved second place.

This year’s Community Rail Awards were jointly sponsored by Transport for Wales and Great Western Railway.

There were 180 entries in 19 categories.

FoGS members say they are ‘thrilled’ to have achieved first place in one of them.

All the entries demonstrated how the community rail movement builds social inclusion and supports greener transport.

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “Our Community Rail Awards give deserved recognition to community rail partnerships, groups and volunteers across Britain.

“The awards ceremony showcased the great value of community rail, helping to build stronger, fairer, greener communities, served and connected by their railways and wider sustainable transport network.”