A LOCOMOTIVE has been named in honour of a heritage railway organisation's celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Richmond MP Rishi Sunak did the honours at a ceremony at Wensleydale Railway's Leeming Bar Station on Friday.

GBRf, a main-line freight company, agreed to name one of their new class 66 diesel loco’s 'Wensleydale Railway Association 25 Years 1990-2015'.

Following the ceremony, the locomotive hauled a train to Redmire.

It will also haul trains on this weekend as part of the line's annual diesel gala celebrations.

Nigel Park, Wensleydale Railway general manager, said: “We are delighted that GBRf have decided to name this loco in honour of the Wensleydale Railway Association’s 25th Anniversary and it is fitting that this should take place during our diesel gala weekend.

"We are very grateful that Rishi Sunak MP kindly offered to perform the official ceremony.”

The Wensleydale Railway Association is one of the groups that help run run one of the longest preserved lines in the country.

A daily service operates on the line during the summer between Leeming Bar and Redmire.