A SMALL railway station is getting put back on track with the help of council cash.

Great Ayton Station is on the single track rail line between Middlesbrough and Whitby.

The section between Nunthorpe and Battersby was originally built to take material from the mines in the Great Ayton area to the industrial areas of Middlesbrough and Leeds.

Nowadays it is used by local residents to get to Middlesbrough and beyond and by cyclists, walkers and tourists exploring the area.

Hambleton District Council’s small grant scheme has now enabled Moor Sustainable CIC, on behalf of the Friends of Great Ayton Station, to install two new secure picnic benches after their previous one was stolen.

It has also provided an interpretation board giving the background of the station and new signage to help the many visitors find their way to the village.

“Without the funding from Hambleton District Council, which was match funded by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, we wouldn’t have been able to make the improvements to the station area,” said Friends co-ordinator Caryn Loftus.

“The picnic benches are already being well used by individuals and groups of all ages.”

The interpretation board was officially unveiled by June McCleave, great-granddaughter of William Chappelow who was station master at the start of the 20th-century.