A MINIATURE railway in Worcestershire has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

The Downs Light Railway, in Colwall, has been picked for the Heritage Railway Association’s 2021 awards, described as the “BAFTA of railways”.

The railway was nominated in the Small Groups Award category for youth engagement and shortlisted by the nominations panel of the Heritage Railway Association.

The HRA Awards Ceremony will be held in March / April 2021 and the winner will be announced on the day of the awards ceremony. Voting the winner from the shortlist nominees is done by secret ballot.

Timothy Pennock, chairman of the railway, said: “The success of our nomination into the shortlist for the Small Group Award category is testament to the time and effort devoted by everyone involved in the Downs Light Railway.

“In the last few years, the Trust has come a long way to advance youth participation on the Downs Light Railway. The COVID-19 pandemic has made 2020 a challenging year, yet we have achieved an incredible amount.

“Everything we do on the Downs Light Railway is centred around young people. Inspiring the next generation is not only critical to the future viability of heritage and tourist railways, but also the wider science technology engineering industry sectors of the United Kingdom.

“I am so pleased that the efforts of everyone involved with the Downs Light Railway has been recognised at a national level alongside the full size railways."