SANTA has brought a village in the Yorkshire Dales the best Christmas present local people could wish for - the re-opening of the railway station.

Finghall has become the fifth station to re-open on the 17-mile Wensleydale Railway line, which was relaunched - with great success - last year.

The station was seen around the world when it was featured in the BBC's hit 1980s series All Creatures Great and Small, based on the James Herriot stories.

But before it reopened yesterday (THURSDAY) it had not seen any proper passenger services for half-a-century.

However from now on eight trains will call at the station every day, seven days a week excluding Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

The trains will run eastwards to Bedale and Leeming Bar, and have bus connections through to the county town of Northallerton.

In the other direction, trains will run to the market town of Leyburn and the village of Redmire, around half an hour's walk from Bolton Castle. There is no parking at Finghall station.

At the station to watch the new Finghall platform sign be installed yesterday was Peter Farhall, landlord of one of the oldest pubs in the Dales, the village's Queen's Head pub, where copies of the new timetable are available.

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

Local 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."

On Boxing Day passengers travelling on the Wensleydale Railway from Leeming Bar or Redmire and return, can pre-book a special Day Rover ticket that includes a mince pie and glass of mulled wine served on the train.

The full timetable for services calling at Finghall station and information about special trains are available on the website at www.wensleydalerailway.com or by calling the information line on 08454 505474.