Rail enthusiasts were joined by Brownies and politicians to mark the 125th anniversary of Felixstowe's Great Eastern Railway station.

The station building designed by J Wilson and the Great Eastern Railway's architect, W N Ashbee. was opened on July 1, 1898, and the original Grade-II listed station building still remains fully functional.

Great Eastern Square host a shopping centre, while the current station is further along on the nearby platform.

Richard and Jenny Holland, station adopters at Felixstowe, were among those taking part in the 125th birthday celebrations (Image: Greater Anglia)

Richard and Jenny Holland Felixstowe station adopters (Picture: Greater Anglia)

A range of organisations, including Felixstowe Travel Watch, the Felixstowe Society, the Orwell Hotel, East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership and Greater Anglia joined together to mark the anniversary.

A group of Brownies arrived from Derby Road, Ipswich, on a special 'Seaside Bucket and Spade' train.

They were met by Richard Holland, chair of Felixstowe Travel Watch, and his wife Jenny, with the town mayor Seamus Bennett and Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey putting in an appearance.

The dignitaries then took a tour of a public exhibition about the history of the station in the original 1898 town station building before going on to join the celebrations at the Orwell Hotel, close to the station.

Mr Holland said: "We were formed in 1972 to campaign for the retention of the passenger service as there was a real threat of closure at that time, even though it had survived the widespread axing of branch lines following the Beeching Report in 1963.

"Thankfully, the line has survived with a secure future for visitors and commuters. Together with the Felixstowe Society, Felixstowe Travel Watch is pleased to participate in celebrating the 125th anniversary of the historic Felixstowe Town station."

Dignitaries at station before heading to Orwell Hotel (Picture: Greater Anglia)