A VOLUNTEER group has been crowned “Best Adopter Group” for their outstanding teamwork and commitment.

The group from South Woodham Ferrers have been awarded by train operator Greater Anglia for maintaining their train station in the town.

The operator’s “Station Adoption” initiative sees local people across the network get involved with their local stations to come up with ideas and projects that benefit their communities.

The South Woodham Ferrers team, consisting of Bernice Knighton, Bob Barnes, Chris and Angela Kellett, Freddie Knighton and Hillary Large, beat 45 other nominees from across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire at the 2017 Adopter Awards held at Ipswich Town Football Club on Friday.

They meet every Sunday come rain or shine to tidy up the town’s railway station and tend to the flowers they have planted there.

Adopters from across the region were recognised in categories including Best Community Project, Best Small Station, Best Adopter Group, and Most Improved Station.

Andrew Goodrum, Greater Anglia’s Customer Service Director, said: “Our station adopters are real community heroes who give so much time and 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.”