VOLUNTEERS working to reopen a rural railway line in July will be celebrating a milestone next week.

After years spent painstakingly restoring old premises and rolling stock, the Weardale Railways project, in County Durham, is starting work on its first new building, a running shed, next Thursday.

Housing engines and carriages for the line, the running shed will be at the Wolsingham Railway Centre on the Weardale Steel Complex.

The first train is due to run on July 17 from Stanhope Station, which has already been renovated.

Platforms at Wolsingham and Frosterley Station have been rebuilt while teams of workers have spent the last few months clearing the track between Stanhope and Wolsingham.

Brian Morris, managing director of Weardale Railways, said: "This is a major step forward towards our planned opening.

"The running shed will hold up to six coaches or an equivalent amount of locomotives in high quality storage.

"The timescale for construction is tight and, as a consequence, we have decided to use a flat pack sectional building which will be delivered by road and erected within a week of delivery on the pre-prepared foundations."

Volunteers are always needed, and are asked to contact the Weardale Railway Trust at Stanhope Station, telephone (01388) 526262, or see the website on www. weardale-railway.org.uk