AWARDS have been given to volunteers who have worked to improve village stations in the Great Yarmouth area.Train firm National Express East Anglia has honoured its so-called “station adopters” at Cantley, Yarmouth, Brundall and Reedham who work to improve the environment and appeal of the station.

AWARDS have been given to volunteers who have worked to improve village stations in the Great Yarmouth area.

Train firm National Express East Anglia has honoured its so-called “station adopters” at Cantley, Yarmouth, Brundall and Reedham who work to improve the environment and appeal of the station. They also work with Community Rail Partnerships to make stations more welcoming and attractive.

The Friends of Cantley Station (FOCUS) received the Most Improved Station award, while the National Express team at Yarmouth station were the beneficiaries of the Best Staffed Station prize.

Eric Sadler received the Best Medium Size station for adopting Brundall station, while the prize for Best Small Size Station went to Mike Warner for his work in improving Reedham station.

All prize winners received certificates while plaques were awarded to the winners at Reedham and Yarmouth at a celebratory lunch at The Nelson Hotel in Norwich earlier this month.

National Express spokesman Peter Meades said although the company had cleaners and other staff who looked after the stations, the station adopters were designed to enable the community to feel a greater ownership of the station.

He added the volunteers looked after flower beds and tubs and reported any vandalism incidents to the train firm.

“It recognises that stations play a role in local communities and we want to work with local communities and in effect give them ownership of their local station,” Mr Meades said.