WHITEHAVEN's maritime history has been brought to life with the unveiling of a ship planter at the town's train station.

Over the last few years, Whitehaven Station has benefited from rail investment, a refurbished booking office and toilet facility, a resurfaced car park, new shelters, and a replacement tote sign.

Community Rail Cumbria was also able to source funding to install five panels.

It was decided that a ship planter would be installed to improve the look of the station platform, it was opened on Thursday, October 10.

Several organisations, including Community Rail Cumbria, Northern, and Gen2, helped to bring the planter into existence.

Warren Birch, Community Rail Partnership officer for the Cumbria coastline, said: "Today is all about elevating the platform at Whitehaven Station.

"It's very bare and there's not a lot here, so we just felt that something was needed for the platform.

"We started working with Gen II, we worked with them previously at Maryport Station, so we thought that we'd do something at Whitehaven Station.

"Simon Farrer, who is the supervisor there, along with the apprentices, came up with the idea of a ship planter, because of the maritime history of the town."

Simon Farrar, of Gen2, said: "The ship build was an extension task for the apprentices studying at Gen2, enabling them to develop new skills in design and manufacturing.

"They were shown old fabrication skills which were relevant to what had to be made. All this was done on top of their general learning while in the centre.

"All the students involved with the project enjoyed working on it. The finished project will hopefully be around for a long time in its new home."

The iconic ship planter will be looked after by Workington Transport Heritage Trust and the Northern Trains Ltd booking office staff.

Jane Murray, Northern Trains Ltd station manager, added: "I was pleased to see the final construction take place and then the installation for all to enjoy over the coming years, filled with seasonal flowers and plants."

New ship planter installed at West Cumbrian railway station