A kind hearted couple who bought a railway platform sign at auction and donated it back to the town have seen it restored to its right place and installed back on the platform.

Kieran and Angela Preston bought the old Sandbach station sign dating back to the 1950s at an auction of memorabilia in Crewe.

The couple from Ettiley Heath originally planned to put the big sign at the end of their garden nearby to the railway line.

But the couple converted the garage where it was being stored into an office and found the sign no longer had a home.

So they kindly donated it to the Friends of Sandbach Station who set about finding out how they could display it back on Platform Two where it originally stood.

And at the weekend Kieran and Angela were at the proud unveiling of Sandbach Station's new sign.

Steam enthusiast Kieran said: "The original plan was to put it in the garden but for one reason or another we never got round to it.

"We thought it would be a shame for it to go to waste and I remember reading at FOSS so I approached them.

"I bought it at an auction for £80 which is a good price. If it had been a smaller sign it would have gone for a lot more," said Kieran who has a station master's sign in his office.

The couple joined members of FOSS, Northern Rail to watch the Mayor of Sandbach, Councillor Price Jones and his consort Christina Price unveil the refurbished sign.

Cllr Price Jones told guests: "I am delighted to unveil this important piece of heritage for the town.

"It will be on show for current rail passengers and those in the future who travel to and from Sandbach by train."

Rebecca Styles, Regional Community and Sustainability manager at Northern Rail commended FOSS chair, John Scarrott for his hardwork.

She said: "This is not unique but it is unusual. Quite a bit of work has to be done to enable this to happen. Sandbach Station sits on a main line.

"It looks fantastic and I'd like to commend John for his tenacity and determination in seeing that everything was done to complete the process."