TWO benches were unveiled at Bradford on Avon's station on Tuesday to commemorate a year to the day since the death of former station master David Walden.

More than 50 people, including Great Western Railway (GWR) representatives, Wessex Rail Partnership, town councillors, members of the station's garden group and friends and family, were in attendance for a buffet thrown by GWR.

Well over £1000 was donated to get this project up and running and according to current chairman of the station's garden group and good friend Tony Green, his siblings Phillip Walden and Sue Street were touched by it all.

"When I worked with David at the station's garden group he was a brilliant person to work with and I think this was a lovely occasion that he would have liked," he said.

"We had retired vicar Alan Gwyn Jones say a few words which added an extra bit of gravitas to it all. It was very kind of GWR to do what they did, it was great."

Cllr Jon Potter said: "This was to mark his stellar work for the station and his gardening efforts here. It was a very jolly occasion and a fitting tribute for a lovely chap.

"I remember many times how he would work so hard to clear up ice and snow around the station, even when he had retired - he was a very popular man and is sorely missed."

Mr Walden died on May 17 last year after suffering with a short illness, aged 71.