THERE is hope at the end of the railway line for South Tynedale Railway after it received a vital grant from the Government.

The Alston-based railway announced it faced an uncertain future earlier this year after entering administration.

But a successful grant application by the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society, which plans to keep the site open in the future, has seen it receive £84,300.

The railway, which runs between Alston and Slaggyford, closed in March amid uncertainty over visitor numbers and the coronavirus pandemic.

However the society’s acting chairman, David Granath, said the funding would be used to pay vital the costs needed to keep the railway alive.

“It will also help us to prepare for the 2021 running season starting in the spring of 2021,” he said.

“Our team of volunteers are working on maintenance and rebuilding steam locos and we can use this funding to pay for ongoing costs and essential materials.

The railway is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country set to receive a financial boost from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund for heritage.

David added: “We have worked hard in recent years to extend the railway and create a really attractive visitor experience that helps to support the economy of Alston and its surrounding area.”

A £12,900 grant to the Haltwhistle Film Project has been praised by owners Marc McKiernan and Vicky Jones.

The project works across the North-East and Cumbria with thousands of people a year using film and animation across heritage, health, environment and education, and recently premiered a film about autism for NHS England.

The funding will allow the project to continue work stopped by the lockdown and ensure it can continue to improve its work around people with learning disabilities.

“ We will be able to properly archive and put online the 22 years of Heritage work we have done - a major job,” Marc said.

Formed more than 20 years ago, the project is constantly adapting to new technologies and Marc said the funding will help devise and implement new ways of filming and working remotely.

“Many of our client groups are particularly vulnerable, and have poor or no internet connection, making this a slow and complex task,” he explained, “this requires some new equipment purchase.”

Northumberland Archives also received £48,100 in heritage funding.