A FURNESS railway station was on the receiving end of a major clean and tidy project as youngsters tackled litter and weeds.

The Mail, on July 16 in 1996, noted: “Kind-hearted Dalton children have been helping to restore pride to the town’s run-down railway station. The pupils, from Dowdales School in Nelson Street, earmarked the Station Road buildings and platforms as a suitable beneficiary of their Enrichment Project.

“The two-day project involves 13 to 15-year-old youngsters smartening up the station and ripping out all the weeds.”

The cleaning task was tackled as part of the school’s annual activity days and also saw pupils at other sites in Dalton and Askam to paint public benches and clean off graffiti.

Among the pupils taking part were Nicola Sheldon, Simon Linney, Richard Locke, Gemma Hampson and Claire Miller, Trevor Hughes, Martin Rowley, Stuart McAllister and Myles Graham.

Construction skills were put to the test in 1993 when pupils created giant wooden animals for an unusual creative project in the school grounds.

The Mail, on September 22, noted: “Dowdales School has been taking part in a sculpture project building animals for a Noah’s Ark.

“Helped by Dalton’s new resident sculptor, Keith Alexander, the pupils from Dowdales and Dalton primary schools have built a collection of animals for their own ark.

“The animals range from monkeys to crocodiles and swans.

“Children from George Romney Junior School, Our Lady’s Primary School and St Mary’s Primary School are also creating animal for the ark.

“Work has been going on for two weeks to perfect the models which are entirely the children’s creations from the choosing of materials to the design.

“It is also a chance to introduce Keith to the town as he will be working on projects throughout Dalton as part of the celebrations of the the opening of the new A590 Dalton bypass.”

Julie Hammerton, projects director, said: “It is part of the changing face of Dalton."