A popular heritage railway based in Chinnor has been served an eviction notice to move seven of its carriages and wagons from a section of track to Chinnor station.

The Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway (C&PRR) was given 10 working days to move the carriages by Cemex, which owns the land, which has now been extended.

The move has been slammed by the charity, whose members say there was “no warning” of any legal action from the firm when they had met a few days prior to the notice being served.

Cemex denies any wrongdoing, with property director Simon Barrett saying discussions with C&PRR have been “friendly” and “cooperative”.

C&PRR Chairman Danny Woodward said the “unpreceded” legal action initially “threatened” the railway’s “hugely popular” Santa Specials in December, where children are given presents on-board by Father Christmas, because volunteers who would normally prepare the trains for the event would, instead, have to move the carriages in the “very tight timescale”.

He also said if the move went ahead the steam railway’s planned future extension to an M40 railhead at Aston Rowant would “no longer be possible”.

Professor Karol Sikora, a cancer specialist and regular C&PRR Santa Claus said: “I’ve been a volunteer on the line for over 20 years. Over the last 10 I’ve been Father Christmas on the Santa Specials.

“That little piece of track is vital to the smooth running and reloading of the Christmas trains, which are hugely popular.

“People come from far and wide and it gives me such pleasure to see the children laughing and enjoying themselves.

“The railway is a charity run by volunteers like us and has no spare cash. We just want to provide an enjoyable heritage experience for as many as possible, so please let us keep our track.”

He said Cemex’s notice is “completely at odds to planning policy”.

Mr Barratt said: “We have been in discussions with the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway concerning the seven wagons which are currently on a relatively small piece of our land and we wish to be removed.

“This action will not change in any way the present circumstances and will not prejudice the proposed extension of the line to Aston Rowant.

“Our discussions with CPRR have been friendly, cooperative and are continuing, and we hope that a resolution can be reached. An extension of the notices has been agreed with CPRR.”