DEVON and Cornwall Rail Partnership's popular Tamar Valley Line Carnet ticket scheme has hit another landmark, with its 15,000th sale.

Introduced in June 2004, Tamar Valley Line carnets are discounted books of ten tickets for travel on the scenic Plymouth-Gunnislake branch line and are only sold at participating local shops and post offices along the route.

The scheme has proved popular since its inception and sales have steadily increased over the years, helping to increase business on the line and supporting local shops and post offices at the same time.

Annabelle Case, who runs Bere Alston Post Office, said: 'I am very pleased to sell the carnet tickets in the post office and help support our vital local railway'.

Rebecca Catterall from the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership said: 'Carnets have proved popular because of their flexibility and ease of use and the fact that the tickets are sold in local shops and post offices in the Tamar Valley.'

Carnet tickets have been extended to the Tarka Line from Exeter to Barnstaple and the Looe Valley Line from Liskeard to Looe. The scheme has also won two prestigious national awards, one for marketing community rail and one for innovation in the rail industry.