A man has been singled out for national praise in a documentary about a community's fight against anti-social behaviour.
Stewart Hall, from Ramsbottom, who works as a customer service assistant for train operator Northern at Brinnington railway station in Stockport, has been commended after setting up a "swap shop" for those in the community.
Around 12 months ago, Stuart and his colleague Darin Astbury set up the shop in the station to help those in need of food, clothes, books and other household items.
When featuring on BBC Radio 4’s "File on 4" documentary on Tuesday night, Stewart said: “When me and Darin started all this, I never thought I’d end up on Radio 4.
“For us, the ‘Swap Shop’ was about providing practical help to people living close to the station that were most in need.
“As word spread throughout the community about what we were doing at the station, we saw a steady reduction in anti-social behaviour, which makes the station itself a more valued resource for the community who need to use the railway to get about.”
Stewart joined Northern as a CCTV engineer in 2008, and since setting up the scheme, more than 1,000 members of the community have joined the Facebook group and five volunteers are now helping to co-ordinate donations.
They have even helped fully-furnish houses for people that have moved into the area with no possessions.
Craig Harrop, regional director for Northern, said: “Stewart and Darin are perfect examples of the positive impact each and every one of us can have on our community if we put our mind to it.
“Their actions – and those of other colleagues at the station and volunteers – are to be commended.”
Stuart has been credited, alongside colleagues, for turning around the fortunes of the station, which welcomes more than 100,000 customers a year and had previously been a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.
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