A COMMUNITY group has been shortlisted for two top accolades.

Friends of Handforth Station is in line for two national Community Rail Awards.

Mike Bishop, who founded the group in1996 said “We are very excited to announce that two of our entries have been short listed in the categories of Small Projects Award and Involving Children & Young People."

The first is for two replica London, Midland and Scottish Railways heritage Handforth name boards, researched, designed, built and painted by John Lowe with a little assistance from Age UK Cheshire East Men in Sheds project and sponsored by local Jewson’s Builders Merchants who provided all the timber.

The second recognises the partnerships with St Benedict’s School, Wilmslow High School and Rainbow Pre-school at different times during the year.

The awards, which are now in their 13th year, recognise the important but often unsung work carried out by community rail partnerships and station adoption groups, amongst others, who provide a welcome social and economic contribution, with their activities, to their communities.

The winners will be revealed at the awards gala dinner and presentation evening held in Derby on October 5.