Vandalised park railway vows to reopen at weekend

Volunteers at a park railway have vowed the attraction will reopen at the weekend after being damaged by vandals twice within three days.

Helpers turned up at Eaton Park Miniature Railway in Norwich on Sunday to find its signalling system had been destroyed and its points, which direct the flow of the tracks, had been damaged.

Repairs were then made but volunteers found the vandals had struck again overnight when they arrived at the site on Tuesday.

"The good news is that our team is on the case and determined to reopen this Sunday," said Steve Battle, from the railway.

"We were absolutely gutted," he said of the attack.

"We had tears from children who arrived on Sunday to have a ride on the train, and I think most of us volunteers were at the point of tears.

"Why it happened, we just do not know - it's wanton destruction and something which gives so much joy and happiness, including to the volunteers here every Sunday to run the trains.

"Why they would want to do this and cause so much heartache, is just so unbelievable."

Battle said the railway was forced to close on Sunday when the damage was discovered, which meant it lost out on a day's takings during Father's Day.

He said charities were also affected as the site donates 20 per cent of its earnings to four local schools and East Anglian Air Ambulance.

The railway, which operates steam, electric, petrol and diesel-powered locomotives that pull open-air carriages, normally runs on Sundays and holidays.

Battle said the team always prioritised safety, and advised visitors to check its reopening on its Facebook page, although he was 99 per cent sure trains would be up and running again on Sunday.

Norfolk Police said it received a report of criminal damage on Sunday 21 June at 10:16 BST.

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