[Steve]

Railway enthusiasts were horrorstruck after months of work to restore an historic carriage went up in smoke when suspected arsonists struck near Oswestry.

A blaze tore through two wagons, including one housing a recently completed visitors’ centre, at Hanson Quarry, in Llanyblodwel, on Monday night, causing up to £6,000 damage.

Now volunteers from the Cambrian Railway Society are unsure if they will still be eligible for £2,000 funding from Oswestry Borough Council towards the project.

The blaze, believed to have started between 7.30pm and 8pm, was discovered by project manager for the Nantmawr project, Ken Owen.

He said the fire would delay the opening of the visitors’ centre, but not put the brakes on plans for a big steam event at Easter.