A TINY heritage railway museum run almost completely by volunteers has beaten some of the biggest groups in Britain to carry off a top award.

The Scruton Station heritage education programme, which runs the tiny railway museum on the Wensleydale heritage line near Northallerton, was applauded for bringing history to life for hundreds of children with judges saying their work was “exceptional”.

The group has around 100 volunteers, with 20 working as a main core of helpers delivering a special education programme created by the group.

They were presented with the honour, the Marsh Trust Volunteers in Learning Award, at a special ceremony in the British Museum, which they won jointly with the people’s History Museum of Greater Manchester.

Virginia Arrowsmith, the group’s heritage education officer, who is the only paid member of staff said: "It was superb. We were so thrilled to win. It is a huge accolade for all the volunteers, and we are really pleased the quality of the programme has been acknowledged at a national level.

“We were up against some really big museums, the Victoria and Albert and the Imperial War Museum, so it was amazing to win, a really fabulous pat on the back for everyone.”

Scruton station was recovered from 60 years of neglect and dereliction three years ago by the Wensleydale Railway Association Trust in a £180,000 restoration. They remade it as the Victorians had built it in 1848 with real sash windows, lime plaster and iron guttering. The waiting room's timber screen and some of the frames were built by woodwork students at Darlington College.

To bring the museum to life, volunteers set about creating an educational programme setting the scene at the station around 1916, complete with accompanying characters, who would have used the railway during the first world war.

Since the start of the project they have worked with over 700 children and 3,000 members of the public.

“We have had amazing feedback from all the teachers and schools who came to the station. We did a huge amount of research and preparation for the programme and it is so exciting to get this kind of recognition,” added Ms Arrowsmith.

The award is given for dedication, innovation and excellence in dealing with the public. The station has already received £500 for winning the regional heats and shares the £2,000 national prize money.