FRIENDS of Minehead Station is facing its biggest challenge to date with the main platform canopy badly in need of replacement at a cost of close to £100,000.
It forms part of the listed building and the replacement material must be appropriate in type and capable of withstanding the stresses and strains of the weather on the West Somerset coast.
Estimates for replacement of the canopy, which dates from the 1950s, have been received although FOMS are facing a hefty bill.
Chairman Alan Grieve said: "We have been fundraising towards the project since we paid £20,000 for the refurbishment of the Minehead station toilets but the canopy is not going to leave much change out of £100,000.
"Our principal source of funding is our Readers Halt second hand book stall at the station and, to put the challenge into a sort of perspective, we would need to sell 1,000,000 second hand books at 10p a time to pay for the canopy."
West Somerset Railway managing director Dennis Taylor said: "The railway is grateful to all of its stations' groups for the vast amount of work that they put into the upkeep and the development of stations.
"However, the canopy will be one of the biggest challenges any group has faced and we wish the Friends of Minehead Station every success with the challenge facing their fundraisers."