A MARKET town and railway line will be transported back in time to the sights and sounds of wartime Britain next weekend.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) has announced that its annual Railway at War weekend will be bigger and better than ever before with a host of events planned to commemorate the Second World War.

Pickering will be the focal point of the activities with both military and civilian vehicle parades through the town centre across the weekend.

On the Saturday, October 14, the foot parade will be led by the Yorkshire Corps of Drums and will include all disciplines of the military, followed by a vast array of 1940s military vehicles.

Sunday will see the return of the civilian vehicle parade with classic vehicles such as a 1930s Austin 10, Rolls-Royce convertible and period motorcycles.

Over the three-day event - which launches on Friday - families can hop on board steam and heritage diesel trains and re-live the heartening spirit and camaraderie of World War II, whilst enjoying various war-themed entertainment and vehicle displays at stations along the iconic North Yorkshire Moors Railway line.

Each station along the line will be transformed to create a variety of scenarios and performances including a wartime street, ‘The Sidings’, at Pickering, Home Guard demonstrations at Goathland and an RAF theme at Grosmont, complete with a replica mk9 Spitfire.

Visitors will have the chance to experience a plotting room at Grosmont, where the RAF monitor and track the enemy and a dispersal hut.

There will also be a farewell tour of ‘Company B’ by a theatre group.

Levisham will once again be transformed into the German-occupied French village of Le Visham with re-enactment displays and a Café Allée du Bois.

Meanwhile, Pickering will have live performances from international cabaret artist, Paul Harper and a new attraction for 2017 will be ‘The Voice of Vintage’ performing classic songs from the wartime era.

Ampleforth College Big Band will also play a repertoire of music from the 1930s and 1940s at Pickering station on the Sunday afternoon.

And in honour of those who fought tirelessly to ensure Britain’s freedom today, there will be wreath-laying ceremonies at Pickering and Grosmont stations.

For further information or to pre-book tickets online, visit nymr.co.uk/wartime and keep up to date via the NYMR facebook page.