BRITAIN'S newest heritage railway is helping prisoners get their lives back on the right lines.

Two women inmates at Durham's Low Newton prison are determined to turn their backs on crime after being given jobs at Weardale Railway, in County Durham.

Claire McCready, 23, from Gateshead, and Denise Young, a 34-year-old mother-of-two, from Carlisle, are part of a four-strong team cleaning out carriages at the railway's Wolsingham depot.

As many as 300 prisoners at seven other jails and young offenders centres in the region also played their part in getting the line reopened last July, by clearing sections of track and making wooden seating, picnic tables and other items such as signs and notices for Stanhope Station.

Yesterday, railway bosses thanked prison bosses for supporting the venture by treating them to lunch and a ride on the train, which operates between Stanhope and Wolsingham.

The women prisoners, who were both jailed for supplying drugs, said the experience would encourage them to go straight when they are freed in a few weeks' time.

Ms McCready said: "I have been involved in drugs since I was 16, but this has helped us both to see that there is more to life than drugs. We are not going back to that.

"It has helped us to get used to being outside and being with people and gets us ready to look for work.

"We both wanted to make changes to our lives and this has definitely helped us do that.

"I never thought I would every work on a railway but it has been a fantastic experience."

Ms Young said: "We have really appreciated being given the chance and being trusted to work outside. It has completely changed our lives."

The initiative to employ prisoners and young offenders was taken by former prison officer Tony Galley under a new scheme of the North-East Restorative Community Partnerships, which is sponsored by the prison service and the Inside Out Trust.

Before prisoners can be released for outside work, officers carry out risk assessments and examine their motivation.

Martin Laffey, resettlement officer at Low Newton said: "The girls have to show us they are ready to change. It gives them self confidence, motivation and training as well as something to put on their CV.

"Some of the girls have never worked before and this shows employers they can do it."

The line finishes its summer season on Sunday and reopens later in the year for a series of Santa Special runs.