Heritage railway's train targeted by vandals

Windows were left broken along the whole carriage

A train on a heritage railway has been targeted by vandals, with police left unable to find those responsible.

Nine windows of the carriage on the East Lancashire Railway train were smashed while it was stationed at the railway's engineering workshop in Baron Street, Bury.

Commercial manager Mark Hill said the "mindless act" left them with a £2,000 bill and a huge clean-up had begun.

"It's actually soul-destroying for our volunteers," he said.

Staff said it was a "mindless act"

Greater Manchester Police said it was no longer investigating the 30 May incident due to insufficient evidence.

Mr Hill said: "We're an easy target and someone was bored and decided to throw stones at our carriage," he continued.

"It's demoralising when you've got one of our fantastic carriages that has been restored to service and you come in and find the windows have been smashed."

"It's not just any old carriage it's one of our buffet cars.

"So it's a revenue-generating carriage and of course, all the money it makes goes back into the railway."

The carriage hosts colourful family events

The railway is also looking to secure £2m to restore the roof of the 168-year-old Bury workshop.

"It's hugely disruptive to our operation day-to-day when we're having to clear up glass and find spare pains, but also to our restoration road map," Mr Hill said.

"We've got thirty carriages in Bury and we try to get them restored every ten years.

"It's the last thing we need because we have big bills coming up, we've got a viaduct to repair and we need a new roof at out baron street workshop."