A RAIL operator is recognising the work of its “very special” station volunteers.

Stations across Essex have been getting facelifts with volunteers giving their time to transform them.

Volunteers have banded together to tackle unloved areas of their stations, transforming them with stunning floral displays or creating gardens as part of Greater Anglia’s station adoption initiative.

Now the volunteers’ efforts are being recognised by Greater Anglia.

They include Gary Miller, who was praised for his impressive floral displays at Braintree railway station for a third year.

Stephen Scrase and Katherine Beck who recently ‘adopted’ the Grade II listed Chappel and Wakes Colne station.

They recruited a small team to help them install and maintain attractive planters on the platforms and hope to hold community events in the future.

At Marks Tey station, Maureen Collen, Brenda Hall and Corinne Sermons were commended after transforming many areas of the station with their floral displays.

They were all recognised at Greater Anglia’s Station Adoption Awards.

Spokesman Alan Neville said: “Our station adopters are very special people to achieve amazing things to benefit their communities and make them better places to live with their enthusiasm to bring rural stations to life and restore their links to the communities they serve.

“The adopters know their stations and the needs of their community well and we are happy to support their aims through small grants and facilitating improvements.

“I am delighted that we can also recognise and thank them through the Adopter Awards - we’ve seen some fantastic and innovative projects this year and I would like to thank them all for their continued hard work.”