THE growing campaign to save the Hengistbury Head noddy train received a welcome boost from Radio 2 breakfast show host Chris Evans this morning.

The DJ, who has on average 9.8million listeners, mentioned the petition to save the Noddy Train this morning.

Referring to the petition he said it had more than 16,000 signatures.

He was tweeted a series of question and answers from Bournemouth Council to “clear up any confusion”.

He said: “I just feel sorry for the Noddy Train and the people that run it and the kids that enjoy it.”

Hengistbury Head’s much-loved train service has been given notice to quit by council bosses.

The popular train service, affectionately known locally as the ‘Noddy train,’ is being axed in its 45th anniversary year so the council can run their own land trains from Hengistbury Head to Mudeford Spit.

The council claims the “time is right” to take over the service from November and eventually aims to run land trains between Alum Chine and Hengistbury Head.

But the shock announcement has left 88-year-old Joyce Faris and her staff reeling.

Joyce’s late husband Roger Faris started the service with hand-crafted engines and carriages in 1968 and, following his death in 1990, Joyce kept it going in his memory.