HERITAGE Railway bosses have launched a desperate bid for survival after being hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway this week launched its "Worth Saving" appeal to ensure it could remain a leading visitor attraction.

The emergency appeal came after the five-mile line – made famous in the 1970s film The Railway Children – was forced to close its doors on March 20 due to the pandemic.

KWVR chairman Matt Stroh said: "The railway has had to be essentially mothballed until such time as the restrictions are lifted.

"Without income, cash reserves are disappearing fast, and the railway needs help to survive as the fantastic example of living history that it is today.

"These are unprecedented times for the Bronte Country line and without the help of supporters we will struggle to keep the railway as a leading Yorkshire attraction. If many people give whatever they can afford, it would make a huge difference to us.

"The Worth Saving appeal has been launched to ask for donations from the railway's supporters, and those from far and wide who love steam locomotives and want to be able to relive the past into the future."

Mr Stroh said donations of any size would be hugely appreciated from the volunteer team at the KWVR, and would go "that step further" to protecting its future.

Visit kwvr.co.uk/worth-saving to make a donation. The railway is a registered charity.

The Worth Saving appeal comes on top of an appeal currently being run by the railway to replace one of the bridges on its line.

The structure – which dates from 1904 – carried the railway's steam locomotives over the River Worth, near Ingrow West Station.

The £150,000 project, which was due to go ahead last month, involved installing a new concrete deck and then relaying the track.

Although the work was due to be carried out almost entirely by volunteers from the railway including qualified engineers, money still needed to be raised to cover the cost.

Donations have included £15,000 from the Friends of the railway, which was matched by the KWVR Trust.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway is West Yorkshire's only complete standard gauge preserved railway, and is operated by more than 700 volunteers.