RAMSBOTTOM'S major tourist attraction, the East Lancs Railway, is in line for honours in this year's United Utilities North West Tourism Awards.

The North West Tourism Board, which recognises organisations' commitment to improving facilities for people with special needs, described the efforts made by the East Lancashire Railway to improve services as being "particularly commendable".

Recent introductions to the popular railway have included:

a disabled person coach, with wheelchair lift access and widened doorways,

a loop hearing system in the booking hall

widescale improvements to meet accessibility

The railway is competing against Saddleworth Museum and Art Gallery and Wyre Estuary Country Park for the Tourism for All award.

Mr Trevor Jones, chairman of the East Lancashire Railway, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be nominated for the award. But our efforts to improve disabled access are still continuing.

"We are also looking at providing another disabled coach to make travelling much more flexible.

"Presently we are improving the Bolton Street Station with the help of the local authority."

Dorothy Naylor, chief executive of the North West Tourism Board, said: "Tourism for All Award is for a tourism product which provides excellent service and accessibility to people with specific needs.

"We were overwhelmed by both the quality and the quantity of entries received."

Finalists will be invited to Blackpool Pleasure Beach at the end of this month. All winners will then be entered in the English Tourist Board's "England for Excellence" awards later this year.

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