Every year 22 million passengers pass through Prestatyn railway station heading east or west along the main North Wales coast line.

Now it is hoped that a newly-erected sign will encourage more of them to break their journey and see what the town has to offer.

After lengthy negotiations with Network Rail, Arriva Trains Wales, Denbighshire County Council and signmakers a large sign has been erected stating “Prestatyn Welcomes Walkers” – and with the Wales coastal path passing through the resort and the Offa’s Dyke long-distance trail finishing on the seafront the message is certainly justified.

The initiative for the venture came from the Friends of Prestatyn Railway Station whose efforts has been recognized in the past with a Level 5 award in Wales in Bloom’s It’s Your Neighbourhood competition and being chosen as Best Kept Manned station in the Tidy Towns competition.

The station is seen as a shop window for the resort as rail passengers pass through, and Sue Ward, chair of the Prestatyn and Meliden Partnership, said: “We are pleased to continue to support the work at the station which not only enhances this important entrance to our town but also demonstrates that we are a caring community, and value and take pride in our environment.”

Carol Holliday, chair of the Friends group, said that gaining permission to install the sign had been a long and laborious process but they were grateful to Network Rail for their guidance and the Partnership and Prestatyn and District Festival of Walking who sponsored the sign.

Malcolm Wilkinson, of the Walking Festival which attracts hundreds of people to the area each year, said Prestatyn was the first town in Wales to be given Walkers are Welcome status in 2007.

“With the wonderful countryside and beach it offers it has been growing rapidly in both its reputation and what it has to offer for visitors and residents alike,” he said. “The new sign is the culmination of over 10 years of campaigning and it will be seen by millions of rail passengers.”