Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway-based 2874 Trust has received £3,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The emergency grant will assist with volunteer training projects for 'heritage mechanical engineering'.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown of The 2874 Trust, which is restoring 1918-built Great Western Railway heavy freight locomotive no. 2874, training projects were put on hold.

All work at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) was stopped to ensure the safety of the public, staff and volunteers.

David Foster, Chairman of The 2874 Trust said: "Now our base at the GWSR has re-opened we are able to resume our training projects. Thanks to the National Lottery grant we have some additional tools and the personal protection equipment necessary to ensure our volunteers can work and learn in safety.

"We're grateful that The National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting us at this crucial time - it's a lifeline to us and others who are passionate about sustaining heritage for the benefit of all."

The funding, made possible by National Lottery players, was awarded through The National Lottery Heritage Fund's Heritage Emergency Fund. The fund has made £50million available to provide emergency funding for those most in need across the heritage sector.

The UK-wide fund aims to address both immediate emergency actions and help organisations to start thinking about recovery.

Ros Kerslake, chief executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, supporting economic regeneration and benefiting our personal wellbeing. All of these things are going to be even more important as we emerge from this current crisis.

"Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to be able to lend our support to organisations such as the 2874 Trust during this uncertain time."

Like The 2874 Trust, other charities and organisations across the UK that have been affected by the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus outbreak are being given access to a comprehensive package of support of up to £600million of repurposed money from the National Lottery.