GOOD news as steam railway tourist got another cash boost to help it recover from the Covid pandemic.

The South Tyneside Railway, which is based in Alston, was given £33,100 as part of the Government's second round of the Covid recovery scheme.

The cash means the railway can now get ready to welcome customers back ahead of its opening on July 3.

Money from the recovery scheme - granted via the Heritage Fund - will also enable maintenance to be carried out on the line over the next few months ahead of the planned reopening.

In January The Cumberland News previously reported that the attraction got £84,300 to help keep it ticking over.

The railway opened in stages, in 1851 and 1852, and the line survived until 1976. A section of the line from Alston to Lintley Halt was later reopened by volunteers.

It's been 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 national railway network.

For more information, or make donation go online to: www.south-tynedale-railway.org.uk