A HERITAGE railway group is celebrating its 25th anniversary by attempting to lay a mile of silver coins on one of its platforms.

The Wensleydale Railway Association will mark its anniversary on Sunday, August 16 at Leyburn Station, and is appealing for silver coins to be donated to help it achieve the challenge - and is inviting visitors to join in with support from volunteers and organisers.

Chairman of the Wensleydale Railway Association Ken Monkman said: “The 25th Anniversary of the association is being marked by a number of events and the Silver Coin Challenge is something anyone can become involved with.

"People can turn up with whatever loose change they can spare and have fun at the same time as helping the Wensleydale Railway Association in its fund raising efforts.”

Trains are running on the yellow timetable. Volunteers will be at the station to start laying coins at 8am and will continue until the last train has departed Leyburn Station.

Wensleydale Railway is one of the longest heritage railway routes in the country and operates and daily service in the main season between Leeming Bar and Redmire with Wednesday and Saturdays for the Northallerton-Leeming Bar section. Plans are in hand to extend the service in line with future demand.