A REPLICA of Stephenson's Rocket made entirely from rubbish will be displayed at Darlington's Festival of Thrift this weekend.

The locomotive is made from shopping trolleys, bicycle wheels, water pipes and cardboard and is all built around an old tricycle.

It will be pulling carriages around the Festival, at Lingfield Point, at timetabled intervals.

Cloud West Trading Company, which creates products to sell from recycled materials, crafted the replica with the help of students at the University of Teesside.

The company, based at the Hill Street Centre in Middlesbrough, was set up by the university's "social entrepreneur in residence" Steve Thompson.

Materials for the replica Rocket were provided by Percy, a Middlesbrough-based community interest company which provides recycled materials for arts and crafts.

The Festival of Thrift takes place in Darlington and aims to show how reusing, recycling and upcycling can save money and benefit the environment.

This year’s festival is celebrating the 190th anniversary of the first passenger steam train and features leading and emerging artists from across the globe, demonstrations, stalls, debates and workshops to offer thrifty advice, tips and tricks.

The replica Stephenson Rocket is the first product made by Cloud West Trading Company which will be using its links with Percy to make other pieces of recycled art for sale to the public.

Mr Thompson said: “This has been a great first project to be involved in - the reaction has been really positive and I’m looking forward to taking the train to the Festival of Thrift and making it available to as many people as possible.”

Find out more about the Festival of Thrift - www.festivalofthrift.co.uk.