CARNFORTH has double cause to celebrate this week after being selected for a pioneering 'market town' initiative and securing invaluable publicity in a prestigious magazine.

Having won a place on the Market Towns Initiative, Carnforth will now be studied in detail and an action plan drawn up to regenerate the area into a thriving market town.

The action plan will identify weakness and build on Carnforth's strengths and local councillors Edna Jones said: "The work that has already been started at Carnforth Station shows just what can be achieved. It should inspire everyone to think about how Carnforth can develop for the benefit of its residents, businesses and rural communities it serves."

Also this week, the latest edition of a world-wide magazine devoted to rail-based tourism is set to bring further fame to Carnforth's railway heritage. Long famous as the setting for the cult 1946 film Brief Encounter, Carnforth's reputation has been further enhanced by local author Richard Marsden whose feature on the station's massive regeneration project has been published in the prestigious journal "International Railway Traveller".

Lancaster City Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for Regeneration, Cllr James Airey said: "It is great that Carnforth Station is receiving the worldwide recognition it deserves. Obviously the improvements currently taking place there are extremely welcome. Together with the station's Brief Encounter link it makes Carnforth Station a place of some note.

"It is of course also ideally situated between the Lancaster District and the Lakes and with Carnforth also receiving Market Town Status it makes the town an ideal place to stop off."

City Council Council's head of tourism, Ron Sands, has also welcomed the news: "This magazine is highly regarded by professionals in the field of rail travel,'' he said. "It is publicised six times per year by the Hardy Publishing Co Inc of Louisville, Kentucky, USA and I understand it is read by investors as well as rail enthusiasts. We have for several years promoted the George Washington connections at nearby Warton. This publicity will help to further promote us to the important USA tourism market"