A group of local volunteers have been nominated for a major award, after they commissioned a sculpture to brighten up Wemyss Bay station.

The bronze statue, depicting a small boy going on his holidays, has been shortlisted in the ‘Community art schemes – permanent projects’ category at the Community Rail Awards.

ScotRail Alliance managing director Alex Hynes, is pictured posing with the statue on a recent visit to Wemyss Bay

It was the brainchild of the Friends of Wemyss Bay Station group, who have adopted the Inverclyde station. The artwork harks back to the heyday of the Clyde coast, when hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers would pass through the station each summer, on their way to catch boats.

The boy, named Bobby, was designed by Borders-based sculptor, Angela Hunter. His ‘sister’, Annie, can be seen at nearby Gourock station. The Friends of Wemyss Bay station group also tend to the many hanging baskets and planter boxes on the station concourse in their role as station adopters.

Station adopters are volunteers who create and maintain gardens on station platforms, with funding and support from the ScotRail Alliance. Around three quarters of the ScotRail Alliance’s 359 stations have been adopted by community groups. These include local Rotary Clubs, heritage groups, and NHS mental health groups.

James Ledgerwood, the ScotRail Alliance’s head of economic development, said: “It’s great to see the hard work and dedication of the station adopters in Wemyss Bay station get the recognition they deserve.

“The statue is a wonderful addition to an already stunning building, and it’s great that the local community got involved in the naming process.

“The ScotRail Alliance is working with groups all across the country not just to deliver the best railway Scotland’s ever had, but to also to make a difference to local communities.”