ELSECAR Heritage Railway's dream of extending the track to Cortonwood retail park could have reached the end of the line after members missed out on £80,000 in a tv vote.

The railway, which is run solely by volunteers, came second in the People’s Millions vote in a showdown with Hebden Royd Town Council, Wakefield on Tuesday.

Railway chairman Malcolm Banks said the volunteers were disappointed to have lost the battle with a council.

He said: “I don’t want it to sound like sour grapes but people have said to me that they can’t understand why a council should go to the lottery begging for money to spend on a kids' playground. Why do people pay their rates?

“When all is said and done we tried our best and we will still be here trying our best tomorrow. We will keep knocking on doors because it is living history and long may it be so.”

The charity applied for the money to build a level-crossing at Tingle Bridge, Hemingfield, needed to extend the line to Cortonwood. They already had planning permission for the platform and crossing on the old pit line but lack of funding had stopped them in their tracks.

Local councillors backed the campaign and Barry Lipscombe said the whole community was disappointed.

He said: “I am sincerely upset for them. They deserved it as they have put so much hard work into the railway and it would have put the area on the map even further.