A COTSWOLD heritage railway has hit its share issue target of £1.25 million, with four weeks still to go.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway launched its share issue just a year ago to fund its extension to the town of Broadway.

And the railway's finance director Chris Bristow says he is delighted with the result, and that money is still flowing in.

He said: "What a wonderful achievement. Our volunteers have worked flat-out to make this a success and the public has responded magnificently.

“The number of share applications from people of all walks of life has accelerated as the April 30 deadline loomed.

It was only a year ago that the offer was launched by our president Pete Waterman, and it means that completion of the project on time is assured.”

Neil and Vicky Davidson from Stratton, near Swindon, made the share purchase that took the offer past its target.

Mr Davidson says he is absolutely delighted that they had taken the offer past the magic £1.25 million.

He said: "I’m so pleased to see the project to get the railway to Broadway progressing so well. It’s astonishing to see the rapid progress being made."

“We first came to the railway for a gala event in 2014 and have been hooked ever since. It’s a beautiful railway and the extension to Broadway will really establish the line as one of the best in the country.

“This is a very exciting time for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway and it it’s hard to think of another heritage line that has the same kind of opportunities for future growth and development.”

Mr Bristow said: “There is one major hurdle remaining before the track reaches Broadway station – and that’s the high embankment between Childswickham Road and Station Road.

“It’s only a couple of hundred yards long but this embankment is unstable. Work is just starting on a £400,000-plus project to stabilise the structure using a modern geo-technical solution.

“It’s rather more than we expected to have to spend, but the work must be done, so that’s why we welcome continued share applications.”

However, he is confident the works will be finished in time. He said: "We still have significant expenditure ahead of us and we still need every penny we can raise, but the project to bring trains into Broadway station in March 2018, for the first time since 1960, is very much within our sight.”

A share brochure and application form can be downloaded on gwsr.com.