A BATTLE spanning decades to restore a listed Victorian railway station was rewarded yesterday with a national award.

Station Developments Ltd was presented with an English Heritage Angel Award for Best Craftsmanship Employed in a Heritage Rescue for its work on Tynemouth Station.

A major part of the project involved the restoration of the station’s intricate cast iron glazed roof canopies.

Founded last year by Andrew Lloyd Webber to celebrate the efforts of local people in rescuing their heritage, the winners were announced at a gala ceremony in London’s West End.

The award scheme is run by English Heritage and inspired by its Heritage at Risk Register.

The ceremony, held at The Palace Theatre, was hosted by TV presenter Clare Balding, with Graham Norton, Philip Mould, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, Melvyn Bragg and Charles Moore presenting the awards.

Angels judge Lord Bragg described the Tynemouth project as “a spectacular transformation which will affect so many people’s lives, morning and evening as they go in and out of something wonderful”.

Morris Muter, of Bedlington-based Station Developments Ltd, said: “We recognised that Tynemouth Station was close to the heart of so many people, being dubbed the Covent Garden of the North by local residents.

“It was a mammoth task to restore the ironwork using traditional techniques, but the project has without a doubt been the most fulfilling and enjoyable of my career.”