A COMMUNITY group will hold a party following this month's royal celebrations.

The Friends of Kents Bank Station and Foreshore are throwing a party to celebrate Coronation month and the start of National Community Rail Week on May 21.

The 'Station Garden Party' starts at 1.30 pm and will feature a range of stalls offering cakes, plants and books.

There will be a prize raffle, which includes a complimentary day family ticket provided by Northern for anywhere on their network.

Sands Band will provide entertainment.

A miniature steam traction engine will puff up and down Kentsford Road.

A special free bus shuttle will operate between Kents Bank Station, Allithwaite and Cartmel - for local residents and visitors.

The bus will leave Cartmel (Clogger Bank) at 1.00 pm and run via Allithwaite and Lane End to the station, returning at 1.30 pm and then every hour on the hour until the last departure from Cartmel at 4.00 pm, returning from Kents Bank at 4.30 pm.

The service will be operated by Blueworks of Ulverston and is funded by the Community Rail Network.

Dr Paul Salveson, co-ordinator of the Friends Group, said: "The theme of Community Rail Week is 'connecting communities to their railway'" 

"The special bus is an ideal way to mark that, and we hope it will be well used. It's a great way of getting to the event without having to use the car."

Visitors to the garden party will be able to enjoy the award-winning station gardens, which are looked after by the Friends, with the support of Northern and Network Rail. 

An exhibition in the station waiting room celebrates the life of the late Queen Elizabeth and the ever-popular free book exchange in the waiting room will be fully stocked.

The highly-exclaimed Beach Hut Gallery on the station will be open with a range of top-quality artwork.