A COTSWOLD leading tourist attraction, the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Steam Railway, is reopening next week for the 2017 season.

The volunteer-run steam and heritage diesel railway carried more than 100,000 passengers last year, and aims to do "even better" when it opens on Saturday, March 4.

The winter break gave the railway's 870 volunteers opportunity to carry out significant maintenance, including drainage works, clearing undergrowth and track refurbishment.

Colin Fewell, the railway's volunteer commercial director, is confident that the line will do even better during 2017.

He said: “We smashed all sorts of records year last year and we expect to do even better this year with some fantastic special events that will appeal to families and enthusiasts.

“Among them is a brand new 'Cotswold Bricks and Trains' weekend organised by the Southern Lego Train Club who will be putting on displays of what can be achieved with the popular plastic bricks – and opportunities to have a go yourself.

“Our really popular crowd-pullers will also be repeated including 'Days Out with Thomas', 'Wartime in the Cotswolds', the Cotswold Festival of Steam and Diesel weekends will again have huge appeal.”