A LOCAL artist has helped bring colour to Wool Station, providing a welcoming entrance for visitors.

Artist and graphic designer Maria Burns was commissioned by The Purbeck Community Rail Partnership (PCRP), in collaboration with the Friends of Wool Station, to create a colourful new mural on the west elevation of the Wool Station building.

Maria was also chosen to create a new information board at the station, to help promote active travel in the surrounding area and signpost places of interest.

Wool itself features in the new board, as the PCRP aimed to highlight the rich heritage of the village and its many local attractions in a bid to increase footfall in local businesses.

The board was funded by South Western Railway’s Social Development Fund with match funding from the PCRP.

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Speaking about the mural, a PCRP spokesperson said: “Station art is widely popular to facilitate local community involvement and make stations more welcoming and attractive.”

They added: “We hope to have made a difference to the landscape and station approaches for a better outlook for customers and improved the environment in this location.”

The new information board Picture: PRCP

Wool Station is the gateway to several key man-made and natural attractions including Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove (internationally renowned) Bovington Tank Museum and Monkey World.

It is also close to the Dorset Innovation Park which receives business visitors all year round, many coming by train.

Wool also receives all-year-round international visitors heading for the Jurassic coast and the attractions listed above.

The village is a starting off point for the Lawrence of Arabia trail. The station forecourt lies on National Cycle path NCN2, and several walking and cycling paths radiate from the station.

The project was funded by Community Rail Network on behalf of the Department of Transport.