THANKS to a sweltering summer and a busy tourist season, West Somerset Railway caterers were left with a smile on their faces.

On-train buffet services served up an amazing 38,889 cans, cartons and bottles of cold drinks, compared to 27,500 the previous year.

The sales included 5,400 bottles of water and 10,000 drinking straws were used.

Caterers believe this was due to the exceptionally hot weather, having had a struggle to keep up with customer's demand for water.

Despite the hot weather, sales of hot drinks also topped 77,000, these were made up of 41,5999 tea bags, 72,750 sachets of sugar, 52,500 grams of coffee and 77,000 grams of hot chocolate.

The fun statistics also showed that 77,000 cups were used to put the drinks in, which were stirred by 55,000 stirrers placed in 18,000 carrier bags and 5,220 cup trays to take the goods away in.

Milk portions used in the teas and coffees amounted to 105,900.

The railway brought and sold 8,651 sandwiches, 2,219 rolls and 9,671 pasties.