A FESTIVAL of transport featuring a host of road vehicles, engines and trains from the period up to 1918 is fired up at a North-East open air museum.

The Great War Steam Fair at Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, includes a line-up of about 120 exhibits, with steam locomotives, around 26 road steam vehicles and up to 80 motor vehicles, such as motorcycles, cars and lorries.

The museum has created a real sense of the roads and railways of the Home Front during the Great War, including a fine selection of military vehicles.

The event also sees the opening of a brand-new narrow gauge railway section running from the Colliery Yard to Pockerley tram stop.

It is planned for five engines to be running on this stretch of track - Hudswell Clarke (built in 1916), Lilla (built in 1891), two Simplex locomotives and the museum’s very own Samson.

Beamish’s No. 18 Lewin steam engine will be hard at work on the Colliery Railway and there will be passenger steam train rides from Rowley Station.

Military groups will add to the Great War atmosphere - a Gordon Highlanders camp and Royal Army Medical Corps in The Pit Village and Durham Pals in The Town.

Paul Jarman, assistant director transport & industry at Beamish, said: “Although contemporary lorries were commandeered for army service, huge growth in road transport took place during this time.

"Throughout the four days of this event, the museum’s streets and roads will echo to the sound of motor and steam transport, road building and other trades."

The fair runs until Sunday (April 10). Admission is included in the Beamish Unlimited Pass, which is valid for 12 months.