THE North-East’s open air museum is gearing up for one of it’s most popular annual events.

Beamish, near Stanley in County Durham, will hold its Steam Fair from Thursday to Sunday (Ap12-15) and will have a host of locomotives, steam rollers and traction engines.

Most of the museum’s own steam vehicles will be in action or on view there will be visiting attractions as well. .

One of the museum’s own replica Georgian steam engines will give rides on Pockerley Waggonway and at Rowley Station the passenger service will be hauled by Baxter, which was built in 1877 by Fletcher Jennings and is on loan to Beamish from the Bluebell Railway. The North Norfolk Railway’s locomotive, Y7, will work on the Colliery line alongside the museum’s own recently restored Coffee Pot No.1 .

The Colliery Yard will also host a working narrow gauge railway with diminutive shunting engines Paddy and Chaloner. A museum spokeswoman said: "An amazing array of traction engines, steam lorries and steam rollers, with wonderful names such as Ayesha, Providence and Rambler, will trundle around the museum and there’ll be a fabulous display of visiting vintage vehicles – cars, vans, motorcycles and more besides. "There’ll be rides on the beautiful 119-year-old steam Gallopers and family fun to join in – a tug of war, model making, steam-themed science activities and much more besides."

The museum is open from 10am to 5pm each day.

Admission charges include £17.50 for an adult and £46 for a family of two parents and two adults - tickets give a year’s daytime entry.

For details call 0191-370 4000 or visit www.beamish.org.uk