Commuters help village school

Rail commuters in Shropshire have been making the most of a second hand book stall at Gobowen Station.

And their appetite for reading has helped local schoolchildren.

The books were collected and sold by Severn Dee Travel which runs the booking office at the station.

Directors of the travel specialist decided to donate the latest sum raised to the Gobowen Primary School in the village.

They handed over a cheque for £250.

Severn Dee Travel director Jackie Allen, said: "We were pleased to be able to direct the funds to such a worthwhile cause.

"We are very grateful to all those who have donated the books. We have a lot of rail travellers who will donate money in return for choosing one of the books. Many will pick up books regularly for their journeys."

Head of Gobowen Primary School, Lucy Luke, said the school was very grateful to Severn Dee travel.

"Because the money has come from the sale of books, the school has decided to fund some new books for classes with the money.

"Reading is so importance, at every age."

The railway station has itself reached an important chapter in its long life.

The Oswestry Station Building Trust has submitted an application for change of use and to make alterations to the Grade II listed building.

As part of the project the station office and nearby pharmacy would remain untouched, with the work taking place on the opposite side of the tracks near a new housing development. The changes would allow the units in the vacant building to be given a new lease of life - turned into shops and financial services.

Work will include dealing with the damp problems before internal alterations to make the building more usable.

The buildings were bought by Gobowen Area Improvement Group after being in private ownership for many years.

There were fears the buildings could be sold at auction, but intervention by Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council with a Community Right to Bid application opened a path for the buildings to be secured for the community.