A VILLAGE in the Yorkshire Dales has had the best Christmas present it could wish for - the reopening of its railway station.

Finghall is the fifth station to re-open on the 17-mile Wensleydale Railway line, which was relaunched last year.

The station found fame worldwide after it appeared in the BBC's hit series All Creatures Great and Small, based on the James Herriot stories.

But before it reopened on Thursday it had not seen proper passenger services for half a century.

Eight trains will call at the station every day, seven days a week excluding Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

The trains run eastwards to Bedale and Leeming Bar, and have bus connections to Northallerton.

In the other direction, trains run to Leyburn and the village of Redmire, about 30 minutes walk from Bolton Castle.

There is no parking at Finghall station. At the station to see the Finghall platform sign installed was Peter Farhall, landlord of one of the oldest pubs in the Dales, the Queen's Head, where copies of the timetable are available.

"We are looking forward enormously to receiving passengers from the Wensleydale Railway at the pub," he said.

Finghall resident Ann Graham said: "It will be nice to go up to Leyburn on market day by train.

"All the years that I've not had a car, I've had to stand and wait for a bus that seems to come when it feels like it.

"The first bus up to Leyburn is not until 11.40am, so if you've got a doctor's appointment at 10am you have to get a taxi at £14 for the journey there and back."

A full timetable of services calling at Finghall station and information about special trains are available on the web site at www.wensleydalerailway.com or by telephoning the information line on 08454 505474.