A PIONEERING scheme to give the disabled greater access to the borough's top tourist attraction has struck gold.

Two years ago the Peel Lions in Ramsbottom donated a specially adapted railway carriage to the East Lancashire Railway. The coach featured specially widened doors for wheelchair people, areas for wheelchairs and a toilet for the disabled. Hydraulic ramps were also included to ensure easy access from the stations.

Costing £20,000 to refurbish, coach was presented to the ELR for regular use on the popular Bury to Rawtenstall railway line.

Until then disabled people had been able to travel on the line but they had to be accommodated in the guard's van - separated from their family and friends.

Now, the coach and several other wide-scale improvements along the route, including loop hearing systems in the booking hall at Bury, have been awarded the highest accolade in the English tourism industry.

The ELR was presented with the Gold Award after winning the "Tourism For All" category in the England for Excellence Awards, affectionately dubbed the "Travel Industry Oscars", for the introduction of disabled facilities.

Ten years old, the steam operated railway is predominantly run by volunteers and attracts between 112,000 and 120,000 visitors per year.

Celebrating the ELR's success were members of the Peel Lions who spent four years raising the necessary funds for the conversion project.

Lions member Mr Peter Hepburn said "We always knew the carriage for the disabled would be a sure fire winner and we are pleased for the ELR and wish them future success with the project."

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