FIRST Great Western is running a special excursion train from stations in Wiltshire to the seaside resort of Minehead to raise money for a children's charity.

All of the ticket sales will be donated to the Railway Children charity, which looks after homeless children who take refuge in railway stations across the world.

The railways staff will be working for free and the costs of running the train have been waived by by First Great Western, Network Rail and the West Somerset Railway.

There will be a variety of children's entertainment onboard as well as a raffle, free entry to Butlin's holiday park in Minehead and half price tickets on the West Somerset Railway's steam trains.

The train leaves Westbury at 9.14am on Saturday May 10 and will be calling at Trowbridge at 9.21am and Bradford on Avon at 9.28am before arriving in Minehead at 12.39pm.

Adrian Booth, external relations manager at First Great Western, said: "First Great Western staff, like railway staff all over the country, embrace the charity the Railway Children with considerable enthusiasm.

"The issue of children who turn up at railway stations all over the world is an emotive one. Many of those that choose to support the charity have children of their own and want to make sure that whether in Dover or Delhi, children will find support."

Ticket prices are £25 for an adult standard class or £40 for first class and £12.50 for a child standard class or £20 for first class.

To book your ticket call 0845 678 2976 between 9-4.30pm Monday-Friday before May 2.