A LISKEARD man is one half of what is thought to be the youngest ever crew to take charge of a heritage steam train.

Driver Ashley Helleur (left), from St Austell, and fireman Ben Patrick, from Liskeard, took out one of the Bodmin and Wenford Railway’s special themed ‘murder mystery’ trains last week.

Ashley is 22 and Ben 21, and their joint age of 43 years is the youngest ever combination to be in charge of a steam train on the B&WR.

Publicity officer Jimmy James said they may be the youngest team on any standard gauge preserved railway in the country.

‘Well done them for achieving this, and taking on so much responsibility with such aplomb,’ he said.