AN appeal to build a new refreshment room at Kidderminster's Severn Valley Railway station has broken through the £50,000 barrier, it was confirmed yesterday.

The bid, launched earlier this month, aims to raise £300,000 to replace a "temporary" buffet opened next to the station 18 years ago.

A shortage of cash when the 1890s "replica" station was being built meant the facility had to be put on ice.

Contributions from supporters have come in the form of donations and the take-up of additional shares in the company.

The latest figure yesterday stood at £50,146 - and news of the total came as another boost to the railway after it was last week granted £3.3 million lottery money to build a steam heritage centre at Highley.

The station is the mid-point on the 16-mile Kidderminster - Bridgnorth line.

The centre, which will cost a total of £4.5 million, will house almost half the railway's fleet of 26 steam locomotives and provide people with a "hands-on" experience.

Planned to open in 2005, it has been described as "the missing piece of the SVR jigsaw".

Health and Safety Executive rules stopped people from visiting the Bridgnorth engine shed and workshops 12 years ago.