COMMUNITIES in Chard and Ilminster have rallied around to try and save arson-hit resident, Doreen.

Doreen, which was a statue in place at Donyatt Halt on the route linking the two towns, was melted and severely damaged in an arson attack on November 25 last year.

A wooden shelter at the disused railway station, which was built in 1928 and had recently undergone restoration, was also destroyed in the attack.

Now, the Let's Rescue Doreen committee are just one step away from being able to completely rebuild the Second World War landmark.

Brian Harper, 82, lived in Donyatt for 43 years and was the project manager for the station restoration.

He said: "This was a community project linking the towns of Chard and Ilminster using the old stop line way. It was an old Second World War defence system. Using a load of information boards we told the history of the two towns and what links them.

"We had an original letter from a young girl called Doreen Ash who was evacuated to Donyatt and we put out a search and found her."

A Chard artist, Ian Edwards, made the original sculpture of Doreen sat on a crumpled suitcase at the train station, which was worth £7,000.

Mr Edwards' grandfather was also evacuated to Donyatt at the same time as Doreen.

Mr Harper said: "It was a well known spot and acted as a focal point for local schools. They would walk down to there with gas marks and so on.

"The restoration started in 2005 and took four years to put together. We must have had thousands of visitors."

After the arson attack, the committee were told it would cost £67,000 to rebuild to station and its artifacts.

Now, have found the funds for a new brick hut and an information board, they are just looking for the final £3,000 - the cost of repairing Doreen.

Mr Harper added: "We really do care and we want to put her back to how she was. There remains just one item to complete the entire restoration - the statue of Doreen.

"This was so extensively damaged by the fire that a complete rebuild is required. The cost for this work which includes removal of the damaged sculpture and erection of its replacement is £3,000.

"Considering the original cost of the statue, we believe this charge is a most generous offer by the original sculptor Ian Edwards who is equally upset by the mindless damage to his work. We have applied to the Gooch foundation for a grant and put notices up on the platforms.

"As a first step to raise the £3,000 we have set up a bank account entitled Let’s Rescue Doreen and installed a collection box in the George pub in the village. Other volunteers are currently engaged in seeking restoration funds from local businesses and other sources such as crowd funding.

"Please make a donation to our Let’s Rescue Doreen fund, however small."