A 25-tonne train has been successfully craned into a school where it will be transformed into a working café.

Staff, parents and children gathered to watch the carriage arrive and be lowered into place at Five Acre Wood School in Loose.

The train was first held overnight at a service station near Great Yarmouth.

Then earlier this morning, after not being allowed on the Dartford Bridge, it had to go anti-clockwise around the M25, along the M26 and M20 before getting to Maidstone just after 9.30am.

Everyone waited patiently for updates while the carriage was carried through the town centre.

However, it was not until an hour later when the special delivery was finally came through the school gates, after being held up by a bin lorry.

Three heavy-duty cranes were ready to hoist the train into position.

Tracks had already been installed at the Boughton Lane site for the event.

Weighting approximately 25 tonnes, it was going to be an intricate manoeuvre.

Natalie Knight, area manager at Ainscough Crane Hire, says the planning and organisation has been a long process.

“We came down and did the initial look at the site three months ago,” she explained.

“We had to figure out where to put the cranes and how we would actually lift such a heavy item.

“But it has all come together and it’s just so amazing.”

The structure is a Mark 2 carriage, which was built by British Rail between 1964 and 1975.

In July, it was revealed that it would have a new lease of life – to become a fully-functioning cafe and hospitality training academy.

Five Acre Wood was finally granted planning permission and the carriage was donated by Eastern Rail Services.

It is to be named the FAWrient Express, taken from the school’s acronym.

Pupils will be able to prepare, serve and sell drinks and light bites to parents, staff and visitors in the community.

They aim to offer quality takeaway and delivery, as well as an eat-in service, with an indoor seating area that will have space for 26 customers.

Head teacher Tim Williams said: “It felt like Christmas Eve last night, I couldn’t sleep.

“A mixture of excitement and a little bit of worry – but now that it’s here, it is incredible.

“We always wanted to do something different.

“We were never going to have a little kiosk where you’d serve tea and coffee, we wanted to do something big.

“I’m very grateful to all of our supporters and thankful for everything they have done for us.”

Recently it was announced the project would be backed by a number of businesses, including nationwide chain Costa.

They have agreed to provide coffee beans and machines to use in the cafe.

Tech firm Panasonic has also been in touch, offering to install two air conditioning units in the carriage free of charge.

Principal Peggy Murphy added: “I don’t get excited that often, but when it came through the gates I felt really excited.

“This is once in a lifetime chance to see something like this.

“I think the children will be shocked when they come back. We have a lot of train fanatics here.”

Five Acre Wood currently has 807 pupils on roll, catering for those with moderate, severe, profound or complex learning difficulties and autism.

Maidstone mum Sarah Oaks said it is “the most fantastic resource ever”.

She has a 14-year-old son, Joel, who has been at the school for 10 years.

“It was a crazy idea that has turned into a reality,” the 53-year-old said.

“As a parent, it is wonderful to know that my son will have this experience.

“You don’t get this at any other school.

“I think he’d love dealing with customers and interacting with people on a day-to-day basis.”

The school would like to thank Matt Burgess at Legacy Rail, Jim Littleboy from Crawford & Company, The Cobtree Trust, Carrick Landscapes, The Screwfix Foundation, and Mike Littleboy from Stones Community Trust, as well as Allelys, Ainscough and Resource Rail.

Today marks the start of the regeneration project and the cafe is set to be operational by January next year.