Helpers are wanted to carry out maintenance works on one of Kent's heritage railways.

It comes as the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway has planned a number of work weekends between February and April.

Built in 1905, the light railway is the preserved southern half of the former Bowater’s Railway.

It was used for the transportation of the raw materials required for the manufacture of paper as well as the finished product around the mill at Sittingbourne.

Newspaper owner and publisher, Edward Lloyd, built Sittingbourne Mill in 1867 to supply his empire with paper.

The railway was originally horse drawn and was centred around the wharf on Milton Creek with lines into storage sheds and the mill.

The line, which is built to a gauge of 2′ 6″, continues to use the steam engines and rolling stock that were supplied to operate the railway in its working life before its preservation in 1969.

The mill was demolished in 2010 and a Morrison’s was built on part of the main site.

A skate park also opened on part of the wharf site adjacent to the railway.

In 2012, the railway finally reopened to Sittingbourne Viaduct station.

Now, help is needed to maintain and repair everything at the railway from the track to the buildings, the gardens to the locomotives and carriages.

Works will be carried out on the following weekends: February 18 and 19, March 4 and 5, March 18 and 19, and April 1 and 2.

They will start at 10am and finish at about 4pm, mostly at Kemsley Down.

Anyone interested is asked to bring their own lunch, dress in layers of clothes that can get dirty or ruined, and wear work boots or shoes if possible.

If you have a ‘trade’, you can let the team know beforehand at info@sklr.net as they may have a specific requirement for your skills.

The same email address can be used to arrange a lift from Kemsley Paper Mill car park, Sittingbourne National Rail or Sittingbourne Viaduct stations.