Anyone casually turning up at Toddington station one day recently might have thought they had arrived at a different place, in a different time: for there in the platform was a short Great Western train while the station, which had transformed itself to Helmstead, thronged with World War 2 forces personnel and civilians looking as if they had just stepped out of a wartime film.

In fact, that's just what was going on.  A BBC film crew had invaded Toddington to film for a new drama called Land Girls, part of a season of programmes marking the 70th anniversary of World War 2, in the process changing the station's name to Helmstead.

The five-part drama, to be broadcast on BBC ONE Daytime television in September, was created by Roland Moore and follows the lives and loves of four girls while away from home, doing their bit for the war effort.  They work on run-down Pasture Farm, which is on the estate of opulent Hoxley Manor. In the best drama tradition, their lives will never be the same again - but you'll have to wait for the series to find out more.

The Land Girls are Annie played by Christine Bottomley (Hope Springs, Massive and Early Doors); Nancy played by Summer Strallen (The Sound of Music, Hollyoaks); Bea (Annie's little sister) played by Jo Woodcock (Tess of the D'Urbervilles and All the Small Things) and Joyce played by Becci Gemmell.

The cast also includes Sophie Ward (Holby City), Nathaniel Parker (Inspector Lynley Mysteries and Bleak House), Mark Benton (The Street) Susan Cookson (Casualty) and Danny Webb (Our Friends in the North).

Executive producers are Will Trotter and John Yorke; the producer is Erika Hossington.

Extras included GWR staff, among them Dave Boot, Toddington stationmaster, who also took some of these photographs.

Who were the Land Girls?

The Women's Land Army (WLA) played a vital part in keeping agriculture going in war-weary Britain, helping to run farms and feed the nation while the men were away.  Although many volunteered, others were conscripted.  They worked long hours under tough conditions and for low pay, but they did so in a spirit of camaraderie and patriotism.  At its peak, the WLA had 80,000 members in 1943 and was finally disbanded in 1950.  There was also the 6,000 Women's Timber Corps (WTC), popularly known as the Lumber Jells.

Last year the work they did was finally recognised after decades of campaigning by former Land Girls to get formal recognition of their contribution.  Surviving members of  the WLA and the WTC could at last apply for a commemorative badge recognising their efforts.