A STEAM railway tourist attraction based in Alston has received a grant to help keep it going during the pandemic.

The South Tynedale Railway attraction, which runs engines along the old narrow gauge line, has endured a challenging year.

The South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society called a halt to its services in March during the first lockdown and it has since struggled financially.

However, it has secured funding and has got a share of £1.57bn from the Culture Recovery Fund for heritage, from the National Lottery.

It has now received £84,300 to help keep the attraction ticking over during the remainder of the pandemic.

The railway opened in stages in 1851 and 1852 and the line survived for over a century until it closed in 1976. A section of the line from Alston to Lintley Halt was later reopened by volunteers.

About four years ago, it was extended from Lintley Halt to Slaggyford, with the help of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The aim is to one day restore the line from Alston to Haltwhistle and recreate a community railway linking Alston Moor, South Tynedale and the wider North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with the national railway network.

For information: www.south-tynedale-railway.org.uk