RAIL fans are being offered the chance to savour the scenery of the Settle and Carlisle line.

Green Express and North-East Railtours are running a diesel-hauled special train this Saturday and Sunday.

The Saturday train serves Morpeth, Cramlington, Newcastle and Hexham and follows the Tyne Valley and Settle and Carlisle lines with a five-hour break at York.

On Sunday the train will call at Newcastle, Chester-le-Street, Durham and Darlington before joining the Settle and Carlisle Line, which was saved from closure in the Eighties. It will stop at Ribblehead Viaduct and spend three hours in Carlisle before returning on the Tyne Valley Line.

Tickets cost £31 for adults, £26 for children. For details and tickets call (01484) 422920 (daytime) or (0191) 2523774 (evenings)