The owners of a former railway station in Powys, Wales, hope to raise £5,000 to transform a derelict steam train carriage into an arts venue, the BBC has reported.

Erwood Station was located on the former Mid Wales Railway (MWR) between Llanidloes and Brecon, which closed in the 1960s due to cuts in the railway network. In 1984, the deserted station was bought by Alan and Erika Cunningham who opened a craft centre on the site. It is now run by their son, Michael, who is also chairman of Friends of Erwood Station.

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The centre currently supports more than 100 Wales-based artists and crafts people.

Since purchasing the site in 1984, two vintage GWR train carriages have already been restored for use as a craft centre at the station, while an old Victorian signal box has also been restored.

The friends' organisation is now appealing for money to restore the outside of a third piece of equipment - a former British-made, 24m-long, six-compartment carriage.

Mr Cunningham is quoted as saying: "It's been under covers for 15 years. The longer it spends idling, the more it will take to finish it.

"The time has come to restore it. It's in everyone's interest to see what the train carriage looks like.

"It would have had six compartments, each with two bench seats but we will keep it open otherwise it would have much less usable space."

(JP/IT)