TRAIN station staff hit the jackpot when York employees Bell and Cherry won top awards.

Walter Bell and Danny Cherry were rewarded for their contribution to customer service in GNER's annual customer service awards.

Walter won his award for the second year running, and is recognised for the outstanding service he provides at the station car park. He starts work at 5am every day, and is known by name to the hundreds of regular business travellers he cheerfully greets on their way to the early morning London trains.

He is always ready with a cheery smile and wave, and is famous for sheltering passengers with his own umbrella.

Danny has been recognised as GNER's favourite employee at the station, where he was voted Employee's Employee of the Year. He works on the station floor, a familiar face at the information desk helping passengers arriving at the station.

Football manager Sir Bobby Robson presented a specially-commissioned silver trophy to Walter and a framed certificate to Danny at the awards dinner in Newcastle.

GNER chief executive Christopher Garnett said: "Walter and Danny have shown an outstanding commitment to GNER and our customers at York Station and have received these awards in recognition of their dedication to the work of the team at the station."

Updated: 09:58 Tuesday, February 18, 2003