THE Blackwater rail trail has received a much-needed facelift thanks to the hard work of charity volunteers.

The trail, which runs from Langford down to Heybridge, closed as a railway line in 1968 and is now used as a footpath.

Over the last few years it became run down. However, work from charity organisation Friends of the Flitch Way has helped to restore the rail trail to some of its past glory.

Work has been completed to repair the platform at Langford Station, information points have been installed along the trail, as has a replica of the original Langford Station sign.

The project will be complete once benches have been placed along the trail for people to sit on.

Stan Davies, a member of the charity, said: “The whole idea is to bring back some of the history to the rail trail.

“We have been focusing particularly on the old station at Langford. We were fortunate enough to get some funding from Tesco, who donate money they get from charging for plastic bags to local charities.

“What we have done with that is repair the platform which had fallen apart and was starting to collapse. We have installed information boards on the platform and down the far end of the trail at Heybridge, and will also be installing benches along the trail for people.”

The work has taken around a month to complete, although planning began back in November.

See friends-of-the-flitch-way.org.uk.