Thetford rail station looks blooming lovely thanks to a partnership between the local community and train operator Greater Anglia.

The station, on the Norwich - Cambridge line, has received a makeover thanks to the Friends of Thetford Station, lead by Mike Wilkinson, who have been working with train operator Greater Anglia to brighten up the station with flowers.

The platform now boasts an attractive new flower bed planted with summer plants and flowers.

The efforts have the station have been supported by the whole community. Over 200 plants and shrubs, including Begonia, Marigold and Salvia, were donated by Shadwell Stud Nursery and the Thetford Garden and Allotment Club. The topsoil was donated by Taylors of Barnham and tools, gardening gloves and sleepers were donated by Thetford Garden Centre. A member of the public also kindly made a cash donation.

The station was originally adopted in 2009 by the Thetford Youth Council, but since that organisation was disbanded, Adopter status was transferred to and merged with the Friends of Thetford Station - Mike Wilkinson, Pam Mosby, Keith French, Omar Attialah, Luke Betts, Cristiano Alves, Margaret Ince, Paul Welham, Mary Welham and Matthew Mosby.

Greater Anglia Media Officer, Kerri Worrall, said, “We are very pleased with the work that has been carried out at Thetford station. This has been a real community effort the station looks lovely as a result of the adopters’ hard work. We would like to thank them for their continued support and enthusiasm for the Adopt A Station initiative.”

Greater Anglia’s Adopt-A-Station initiative is now in its ninth year. The initiative has resulted in over 100 volunteers around the network adopting their local stations and reporting to the train operator about the standard of facilities at the station.

The Adopt-A-Station initiative is aimed at improving lines of communication between the train operator and railway station users, promoting and encouraging feedback about the station buildings and facilities to help ensure that they meet the high standards expected by those who use them.