BURY-based East Lancashire Railway has won another top award for its contribution towards tourism.

The nine mile railway, which runs from Bury to Rawtenstall, was handed the English Tourism Council's Sustainable Tourism Award at a lavish ceremony at the Savoy Hotel in London.

The railway had already taken the North West Tourist Board's Tourism and Environment Award.

Judges gave the ELR the national award for its contribution to environmental improvements.

"We have a full programme of events on the railway which not only benefits the local community as an entertainment attraction, but also brings in visitors to help the local economy," said Graham Vevers, ELR director.

"It is a great tribute to be a winner of the sustainable tourism award, for our members, the hundreds of volunteers who give up their time to work on the weekends and for the local people."

The railway runs a variety of steam and vintage diesel locomotives and is visited by over 100,000 families and groups a year.

Before the railway opened in 1987 Ramsbottom had 30pc of the shops in its main street empty, but now it has a a thriving tourist trade.