HOLLY bushes planted at Little Sutton station will be a special commemoration of the area’s war heroes.

Andrew Miller MP, representatives from the Cheshire Regiment Association, the Ellesmere Port and Little Sutton Royal British Legion and war veterans were all in attendance as the new holly plants were dedicated last week, along with the Friends of Little Sutton Station and representatives from Merseyrail.

Paul Holloway, railway chaplain led a short service to remember those who went off to war from the station and who served to protect their country before dedicating the bushes.

St Paul’s Ward councillor Ben Powell, said: “I’m really pleased to see two new holly bushes planted in a prominent position at Little Sutton station – their long-standing significance and importance to our local community was plain to see by the number of people who attended the ceremony.”

Research by the Friends uncovered the saga of the war memorial holly trees, which is believed to have begun in 1916 when local men went off to war from Little Sutton station and holly bushes were planted as a tribute to those from the area who fought so bravely in the First World War.

However, in the early 1990s, Railtrack refurbished the station and dug out the old holly trees.

Residents John Docherty, Bob McDonald and Janet Money worked tirelessly to get memorial holly replanted at the station and were successful in 1994.

Eighteen years later the replacement hollies had been dwarfed by trees, prompting the friends to see if new holly could be planted in a public place at the station.

Merseyrail provided a planter on the station where the holly can be seen by all who pass by, and just as they did in 1994, Burleydam Garden Centre are providing the new trees.

If you have any interesting stories about the station or any old photographs, contact the council’s Senior Transport Officer Sally Buttifant on 01244 976788.