Railway is left �260,000 in will

Roger Bennett spent hours restoring the old engines

A man who gave up hours of his life volunteering at a steam railway in Staffordshire has left �260,000 to the attraction in his will.

Roger Bennett worked restoring engines for the Churnet Valley Railway, in Cheddleton, near Leek, and also acted as a driver and signalman there.

In tribute, one of the railway's engines has been named after him.

Officials said the cash would go towards the upkeep of the route and preserving it for future generations.

The railway's new Yorkshire Janus class shunting locomotive has now been named Roger H Bennett.

Phil Jones, who also works as a volunteer at the railway, said: "He loved every minute he was down here and certainly over the period of time he was here, he made a lot of friends.

"I think we're marking his death as he would've wanted."

After Mr Bennett, from Macclesfield, died two years ago, aged 62, his ashes were scattered on the track south of Cheddleton station.

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