A GROUP responsible for looking after Chirk Railway Station is determined to do all it can to maintain the hard work put in at the station, despite the coronavirus outbreak.

Friends of Chirk Station (FoCS) adopted the station more than 15 years ago, and has since looked after it and won multiple awards for doing so.

With warmer months approaching, the group of volunteers is usually out working hard to look after the flowers and overall presentation of the station and its platforms, but with the virus outbreak causing some disruption, the group has been forced to change the way it works for the time being.

Christine Ashford, FoCS member, said although the award events may be cancelled this year, the group will continue to work as safely as they can and within the law to keep the station up to its high standard.

She said: “Wales in Bloom has cancelled all of its main competitions this year, but a decision is yet to be made on the It’s Your Neighbourhood competition.

“While we wait for that decision, we have to be careful looking after the station as things stand – we are a small group anyway, but we can only go down there in twos at the moment.

“It’s working at the moment – if I pop down for half-an-hour for a walk, I can spot things that might need doing and sort them.

“At the moment it looks absolutely beautiful down there.

“We’re working within the law and will ensure we continue to keep it looking as best as it can be.

“We were hoping to get down there and take some photos of it recently, but obviously now that’ll be put on hold until it can be done properly.”

If the It’s Your Neighbourhood awards do go ahead later this year, FoCS will be hoping to attain its ninth ‘outstanding’ recognition from the assessors.

It would be the ninth ‘outstanding’ grade the station has achieved in the 16 years since the group adopted it.

Christine added: “There will obviously be a lot fewer trains coming through now and fewer people using the services, but we want the community to know we will continue to look after the station as much as we are able to.”