APPRENTICES at Severn Valley Railway’s heritage skills training academy are not just doing it, they're B&Q-ing it.

Because the home improvement giant has provided the young engineers with £8,000 worth of tools. Staff from B&Q’s Kidderminster store were on hand at Kidderminster station to hand over the consignment, which was loaded on to one of the SVR’s heritage steam trains. The tools, plus apprentices and VIP guests, then went on a 16-mile journey to Bridgnorth Station in Shropshire. The essential kit will be used at SVR’s locomotive works at Bridgnorth and the carriage and wagon department at Kidderminster, while each apprentice was also presented with their very own tool set to keep.

John Leftwich, chair of the SVR’s Charitable Trust development board, which helped secure the donation – the largest in the railway’s history – said it was a welcome boost to the company's on-going projects.

“Preserving such a historic and well-used attraction for the 200,000 visitors who travel each year with us is a constant challenge and a costly task, but one made easier by generous donations such as this one - we are all very grateful,” he added.

Sam James, deputy manager of B&Q’s Kidderminster store, said: “The Severn Valley Railway is a jewel in Shropshire and Worcestershire’s crown and we are thrilled to be able to lend our support to ensure that this remarkable infrastructure is preserved for the future. It’s wonderful to see the next generation of railway engineers gathered here today and we wish all the apprentices lots of luck as they embark on their exciting new careers along this beautiful stretch of English countryside.”

The heritage skills training academy has been launched to teach young people the traditional skills of maintenance and restoration of locomotives, carriages and heritage buildings. The academy has just welcomed five new apprentices, all of whom will benefit from the new tools.