Bluebell Railway to honour founder Bernard Holden

Bernard Holden was visited by Dame Vera Lynn on his 104th birthday

Volunteers at a West Sussex steam railway are to pay their respects to one of its founding members by taking his coffin down the line.

Bernard Holden, who was one of the leading figures in the Bluebell Railway, died on 4 October aged 104.

His coffin will be carried on a special train from Sheffield Park to Kingscote on Tuesday before a family funeral.

Bluebell Railway Chairman Roy Watts said: "We are giving him one final trip before we say farewell."

He added: "We call him the founding father of the Bluebell Railway.

"Without him we wouldn't have the railway that we have today."

Mr Holden, who chaired the first meeting of the Bluebell Railway Society in 1958, was made an MBE for services to the organisation.

The funeral will be at St Margaret's Church in Ditchling, East Sussex, before a private burial.