RAIL travellers in Pershore and Honeybourne might be forgiven for thinking Christmas is coming a little earlier this year.

First Great Western is launching new services from the stations as well as introducing new Inter-City-style five coach trains on the line between Oxford and Hereford.

The initiative has been welcomed by the Cotswold Line Promotion Group and marks the culmination of a long campaign for improved local rail services.

Members are keen to celebrate and are to stage two promotional events to raise awareness of the additional and improved services. The enhanced timetable and new trains will come into operation from Sunday, December 12.

The first promotional event will be held in Honeybourne Village Hall next Tuesday, with the second at Pershore Town Hall a week later on November 23. Both start at 7.30pm. Transport between Pershore station and the meeting and from the outskirts of the town can be arranged by ringing 01386 750628 or 561190.

Julian Palfrey, publicity officer for the Cotswold Line Promotion Group, said: "We do hope that local residents will come along to hear about the new trains for Pershore and Honeybourne. Even more important is that they use the new services to enable further enhancements to be made."

The new five-coach Adelante trains are part of a programme of investments and improvements agreed by First Great Western under its franchise agreement to operate services in the South Midlands and the West Country.