WHEN Mike Warner retired he might have been grateful to bid farewell to the station from which he commuted to work in Great Yarmouth for years.But since leaving his job as a shipping agent three years ago, the father of two has spent much more time on the platform - tending Reedham station's flower displays.

WHEN Mike Warner retired he might have been grateful to bid farewell to the station from which he commuted to work in Great Yarmouth for years.

But since leaving his job as a shipping agent three years ago, the father of two has spent much more time on the platform - tending Reedham station's flower displays.

Mr Warner, 68, who lives with his wife Jennifer next to the track in The Havaker, confesses to spending 20 to 30 hours a week on his labour of love, and his all-year round displays have won him the accolade of Best Personal Contribution in the National Express East Anglia station adopters awards at Norwich City Football Club.

He said: “It was shortly after I retired that I was asked by the other station adopter, Ann Thompson, if I would help looking after the plants and tidying up the station.

“I try and go for plants that will flower continuously with an emphasis on geraniums in the summer and pansies and violas in the winter.

“One of the joys of doing the job is meeting and talking to all the passengers, both locals and holidaymakers.”

He said he was proud to create a “good advert” for the village.

Also celebrating, after winning the title of Best Station Adopter Group were the team from West Runton, Jane Bothwell, Judy Kane, and Hazel and Jerry Quinnell,

Mrs Bothwell recalled that since the WI had taken the station on as a community project in 1993 it had gone from strength to strength with the team winning countless awards, including in Anglia in Bloom titles.

She said they had many compliments from passengers regarding their displays and they had recently added a seat in their garden in memory of WI member Kitty Pearson.

Volunteers at Cantley were highly commended in the best small station category, Wymondham was similarly mentioned in the best medium station class, while groups in Cantley and Sheringham were judged as joint runners-up to West Runton.