A memorial garden remembering railway workers who have lost their lives is set to be opened in Barrow.

The new garden will be opened opposite Barrow Railway Station’s car park and looks to provide a place in honour of the workers who have passed away.

Furness railway workers will be volunteering their free time to complete the garden, which will have picnic tables and an area to grow fresh fruit.

They will be assisted by Network Rail, Northern and Travis Perkins, and railway worker Steve Nott has thanked the companies for their help.

Mr Nott said: “It has been a collaborative project and we are really grateful and appreciative of the support we have received.

“There is still a lot of work to be done, but hopefully it will provide a nice space for staff to go out on their break to eat and to chat and for people to remember those we have lost in the past and recently too.

“We have lost three dearly-loved colleagues in the last 12 months.”

Tragically, Barrow’s train depot has recently seen three of its train guards pass away.

Gareth Nicholson, Richard McTigue and Darryl Evans were all railway workers in Barrow, but have since lost their lives.

Mr Nott said: “To lose three guards is unbelievably tragic and has hit the depot.

“All three were hugely respected at the depot.

“They were all very popular.

“Nobody had a bad word to say about them.

“They always had time to help others and had a positive outlook on things.

“Hopefully this garden will help raise the spirits and be a fitting tribute to them and everyone we have sadly lost.”

Mr Nott has revealed there was a real determination among the depot workers to build the memorial garden.

He said: “There is a real camaraderie across the staff.

“They are all doing this in their own time when they are off shift.

“It is a close-knit and tight depot and people wanted to do something to remember them properly and say something positive has come out of such tragic losses.”

A completion date has not been set.

In September, friends of Liverpool FC fan Mr Nicholson will be walking from the club’s home stadium, Anfield, to Barrow Railway Station in honour of him.

In total, 25 friends will be walking more than 100 miles on the week which would have been his 50th birthday.

The walk, which is raising funds for St Mary’s Hospice, will take place from September 2 to 4.

His friend of 35 years, Barry Fitzsimmons, said: “Because of Covid, we weren’t really able to give Gareth a proper send-off.

“So this will be a way to celebrate his life and say our goodbyes.

“We’re also using the money to buy his son Harry’s football team a strip with his dad’s name on it for the next season.”

If you would like to make a donation, visit: /www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/garethnico