Rail operator Great Western Railway (GWR) has launched a campaign to celebrate and preserve regional folklore, marking World Book Day with a new collection of myths and legends from the South West and Wales.

The book, Line to Legend Land, is introduced by former Children’s Laureate Sir Michael Morpurgo, who has also written an original new story, The Miracle Dolphin of Mevagissey. Set in a Cornish harbour, the tale follows the life-saving bond between a fisherman’s son and a dolphin.

Published a century after the original Legend Land series was completed, the new edition features 11 traditional stories retold for modern readers by Gloucestershire writer Brad Brookes.

The collection revisits myths rooted in landscapes across the region, from the mountains of Snowdonia, where the young wizard Merlin reveals two battling dragons, to the legendary clash between giant brothers Goram and Vincent, said to have shaped the cliffs of the Avon Gorge.

To mark the launch, Great Western Railway will install five life-sized statues of mythical characters at stations across its network, including London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads, before touring locations such as Cardiff Central railway station and St Ives.

The initiative also includes an online travel guide encouraging families to explore the real locations behind the legends. The campaign will support Farms for City Children, the charity founded by Clare and Michael Morpurgo, as it marks its 50th anniversary.

“Folklore is the lifeblood of our landscape; it’s how we connect the earth beneath our feet to the imagination in our heads. Living in Devon, I have always felt a profound connection to the stories that haunt these hills and coasts.

“A century ago, the original Legend Land series invited families to find magic in their journeys, and I am thrilled to help GWR revive that spirit. By retelling these ancient stories – including the addition of my own, The Miracle Dolphin of Mevagissey – we aren’t just looking back at the past; we are ensuring that the giants, dragons, and mermaids of our heritage continue to live on in the hearts of children today.”

Sir Michael Morpurgo.