SEVERN Valley Railway has ended the summer with a flourish after announcing record Sept-ember passenger figures.

Despite losing thousands of customers due to the foot and mouth epidemic earlier in the year, more than 30,000 passengers travelled on the 16-mile Kidderminster-Bridgnorth line last month, the first time a 1,000-a-day figure has been reached in September.

The closure of footpaths meant walkers who used the 31-year-old heritage railway as part of a riverside ramble were unable go into the countryside.

At the height of the crisis SVR announced a three per cent drop in passengers and concerns were raised as to whether they would would ever return.

But SVR marketing manager John Leach said: "Having lost 10-12,000 customers to foot and mouth we are very glad to be doing better than last year.

"If all goes well we can look forward to another reasonable year."

September figures were helped considerably by last month's Steam Gala, which attracted huge numbers of enthusiasts.

Building on last month's success the SVR is hoping the appearance of the Hogwarts Express will weave its magic during next week's half-term holidays.

The bright red engine, made famous during its 1,200-mile round-Britain tour to promote JK Rowling's Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire, will run from Saturday until Sunday, October 28.