THE only steam wagon of its kind is the star attraction of a festival that got underway today (Thursday, April 10).

The last surviving Sentinel DG8 made its debut at the 2014 Great North Steam Fair at Beamish Museum, Stanley, County Durham.

It has been restored to its original splendour by owner Richard Straughan, a labour of love which has taken more than 26 years.

Built in August 1929, it was converted from a six-wheeled, solid rubber-tyred wagon to eight wheels with pneumatic tyres.

It was used by Tarmac until around 1944 when it was scrapped, cut into small parts and buried under mountains of scrap metal.

Mr Straughan acquired the Sentinel in 1988 and has spent many thousands of hours returning it to full working condition.

The Great North Steam Fair is the first rally that the Sentinel has attended.

Four visiting railway engines are at the event.

Salmon, an 0-6-0ST locomotive, is giving train rides at Rowley Station and 0-4-0ST Vulcan operates on the colliery railway, alongside narrow-gauge engines Isabel and Peter Pan.

Blackpool trams 167 and 280 will join the Beamish home fleet and there are demonstrations of road-making in the colliery yard, traction engines, steam rollers, cars, buses, motorcycles and bicycles..

The museum is open from 10am to 5pm. For more information, including ticket details, visit www.beamish.org.uk