LADIES and gents... South Devon Railway's Buckfastleigh Station has a new £80,000 toilet block.

Central Devon MP Mel Stride was called upon to do the honours and open the facility with a traditional bottle of bubbly.

He and other VIPS who attended the opening ceremony last Friday were presented with old-style pennies in case they needed to spend them at the station's latest architecturally sympathetic addition.

All the 40 specially-invited guests at the function were encouraged to wear colourful headgear, including Mr Stride who opted for the old-hat bowler.