TWO community groups that were recognised at a national railway awards ceremony have been applauded for their hard work in helping to transform a well-used railway station.

Community Rail Cumbria and Workington Focus Group picked up the Creative Station Project and Station Arts award at the Community Rail Awards held at the start of December.

The groups have worked in partnership with Northern to transform Workington station.

The community groups developed a project - ‘The Rails Which Circled the World’ project - which included an outdoor art exhibition to showcase and celebrated Workington and it's train station's rich heritage.

Community Rail Partnership Officer for the Cumbrian Coast Line, Warren Birch, said: "We are delighted to receive this prestigious award.

"We would like to thank Laurence Hilland, who wrote the original project plan, as well as Northern, Direct Rail Services, Cumbria County Council, Workington Transport Heritage Trust, Community Rail Network, Cumbria Railways Association and the Helena Thompson Museum.

"This project would not have been possible without drawing on the rich history of Workington. We are pleased to be able to showcase all the industries that made Workington a world industrial leader and show younger generations the fantastic industrial history of the area."

The town’s Moss Bay Steelworks was once responsible for producing vast quantities of steel rails which were shipped all over the world. David Wallace from Community Rail Cumbria said the project "encompassed everything" that they wanted to achieve by "showing off both the railway heritage and the towns rich industrial past".

He added: "It could not have been achieved without the support of Jane Murray and Martin Keating from Northern plus the dedication from my right-hand man on the Station Adoption group, Cameron Bragg."