Politicians thanked for securing Bridgnorth Cliff Railway's future with tour of attraction

South Shropshire MP Philip Dunne, West Midlands MEP Daniel Dalton and Shropshire councillor Christian Lea were all welcomed on board the 111-foot attraction.

All three officials had helped to ensure the railway would remain exempt from EU regulations that could have threatened its future and were welcomed as guests of honour by owner Dr Malvern Tipping.

The 120-year-old railway, which connects High Town and Low Town, had been under threat after new legislation had suggested mechanisms used on such vintage cableways should be modernised.

The railway remains the oldest inland funicular railway in England.

Dr Tipping said: "Not having previously spoken to MEP Daniel Dalton, who acted as deputy-rapporteur at the meetings in Brussels, I wished to thank him not just on behalf of Bridgnorth Cliff Railway and the people of the town, but also on behalf of all the UK's historic cliff railways for the important role which he played.

"This now means that our historic cliff railways, many of which having functioned very safely for more than a century, may continue to provide a very important service.

"This is no less true than in Bridgnorth where our cliff railway continues to provide not only a useful service, but a very significant contribution to the local tourism economy.

"We were advised of Mr Dalton's role by Shropshire Councillor Christian Lea. We were advised that both Mr Dalton and MP Philip Dunne would like to visit the cliff railway in the near future.

"We were delighted to welcome them and Councillor Lea, who has also played a very supportive role over the years."

Dr Tipping said the cliff railway continued to provide valuable links and remained a major tourism asset for the town.

"We were very aware ministers were seeking to exempt historic cliff railways from the proposed new European Union regulations," he said.