A TEAM of volunteers lent a hand - and a chainsaw, or two - to tidying up the grounds of Hartlebury Castle.

The group from Severn Valley Railway (SVR) came to the Castle on Friday, January 29, to clear saplings which had taken root in the grounds and to remove dense growth in Queen Elizabeth's Walk.

The Castle and SVR are linked through the locomotive 'Hartlebury Castle' whose name plate is housed in the Grace I-listed building.

Alison Brimelow, vice president of Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust, said: "We are hugely grateful to Severn Valley Railway for their support. This was truly transformational for our gardens.

"Our volunteer gardeners can now see what they are doing and can press on with the task of making the gardens a project worth visiting in 2016.

"The volunteer's day was fuelled by lots of home-made cakes which I am sure were enjoyed by all."

Paul Noons, from SVR, added: "Since the Hartlebury Castle locomotive can no longer come to the Severn Valley Railway, it seemed fitting for the Severn Valley Railway to come to Hartlebury Castle.

"After our successful Golden Jubilee last year, it was only proper that we help a young charity, with whom we have a Great Western Railway connection, on its way. The cake definitely helped to make it all worthwhile."

Filming their work was Kidderminster Video Makers, which has been documenting the volunteer's work at the Castle over the past year.