THE family who have breathed new life into the station cafe at Hellifield are organising a Railwayana Fair later this month.

RailFest 2020 takes place on Sunday September 20 and will see traders from all around the country come together to buy and sell railway-related items.

Stuart Dean and Gayle McIntyre opened their tearooms, Shed 24H, a year ago and have seen it become a popular eatery for local residents and tourists alike.

Having seen so many collectors’ fairs and similar events cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they decided to step up and fill the breach.

Stuart said: “We have attended many railwayana fairs and such-like in recent years and it’s been so sad that so many have had to be cancelled in 2020. We have a big car park opposite the station that is plenty big enough to safely host the event. Enthusiasts from across England and Wales have been in touch to register their interest in having a stall on the day.

“We are part of the railway family, running a station cafe, and we want to play our part in getting things going again, in a safe environment for everyone.”

The event will run from 8am until 1pm and entry for the general public will be £1 per person. Anyone wishing to reserve a stall should email Andy Dean - andy.dean05@hotmail.co.uk.