A MEXICAN wrestler has helped Croydon-based rail operator Southern win a national award.

The character, Loco Toledo, who has a passion for trains, was created as the focus of a new website designed to promote the company's services and encourage more online booking of tickets.

He came into being shortly after Southern, which has its headquarters in Addiscombe Road, East Croydon, won the renewal of its franchise to run services to London and the south coast last September.

As a direct result of the launch, the number of passengers buying tickets online has doubled and the sale of online season tickets has soared by almost 150 per cent.

Of those buying online tickets, 31 per cent were new customers.

And last month, Southern took the Travel Information and Marketing title at the National Transport Awards.

Also honoured was Southern's Metro East manager, Barry Jones. He was a finalist in the Frontline Employee of the Year category.