FINAL preparations are being made for the grand opening of an historic railway project at Donyatt.

The cyclepath between Ilminster and Chard follows the route of the old Stop Line Way built along the railway line in 1940 to defend the South-West against Nazi German invasion.

Over the past year, volunteers have cleared away overgrowth to uncover old gun encasements, ‘dragon’s teeth’ and other anti-tank devices.

Donyatt Halt, the old railway station, has been rebuilt to look like it would have done in the 1940s.

The project also includes eight new interpretation boards providing historical and environmental information about the area, new benches and signposts, all of which will be located along the cyclepath between Ilminster and Chard.

This exciting new project will be launched at a grand 1940s themed event on the afternoon of Sunday, June 7, at Donyatt Bowling Club.

Evacuees, who were billeted to the area, will open the event at 2pm from the newly restored station at Donyatt, then the event will continue in the field next to Donyatt Bowling Club.

Entry to the event is free and there will be lots to do and see including old fashioned games and stalls, rural craft displays, historical displays from Chard Museum and Heritage of the Ile, along with old Home Guard artefacts.