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Volunteers collect 200 rubbish bags from railway

Nathan Bevan & Jonathan Swingler
BBC News, North East and Cumbria
BBC Volunteers in hi-vis vest litter pick along a railway track BBC
Clean-up teams scoured the tracks for litter

It was the kind of glorious weekend weather that would normally be perfect for a scenic rail journey.

But the engers who boarded one particular train at Bishop Auckland station in County Durham on Sunday were seeking a day trip with a difference.

Not your everyday sightseers, these volunteers were instead on a mission to gather 200 bags of rubbish from the tracks to help mark the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

Opened in September 1825, the 26-mile stretch transformed how the world traded, travelled and communicated, with festivities taking place throughout this year to celebrate the bicentenary.

The Weardale Railway is a heritage line that runs for 18 miles from Bishop Auckland to Stanhope.

General manager Claire Gibbons said: "We had the idea for the big spring clean after travelling up and down the line and noticing that the litter situation was really bad.

"So, with a landmark birthday coming up we thought, what better way to celebrate":[]}