A celebration of the region's railway heritage will take place in Darlington this year, despite the collapse of the planned Millennium Cavalcade of Steam.

Thousands were left disappointed when it was announced that the Rail 2000 event had folded earlier this month.

But two private companies have come together to restoke the anniversary fires.

A Full Head of Steam, headed by Darlington businessman Brian Launder, who has been pressing for a separate celebration for more than a year, has teamed up with Teesside firm Aria events management.

They have been commissioned by Darlington Borough Council to run the event, coinciding with the 175th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway at the end of September and beginning of October.

Plans are also being put in place in Shildon for further celebrations.

The Darlington festivities, taking place at the Darlington Railway Museum and sponsored by The Northern Echo, would in no way be linked to the cavalcade or its organisers.

These events would centre on the railways and the arts.

They would include a grand opening concert and fireworks on September 29, live music, fun and games, steam railway rides and a craft fair on September 30, plus an attempted world record "Locomotion" dance on October 1.

Steam train services may be put on between Darlington and Shildon, while vintage buses are being considered to link the towns.

Mr Launder said: "I've been fighting for 14 months now to get Darlington to celebrate the 175th anniversary outside the cavalcade.

"It all started here in Darlington and we haven't got anything to mark it.

"We've got a small museum and there is not even a brown sign on the motorway saying 'birthplace of the railways'."

Although the commission came with little more than two months to arrange the event, the organisers say they are confident.

Vincent Eckerman, director of Stockton firm Aria, said: "Although it may seem like an Anneka Rice project, there is a will there to do this."

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said: "The event will be a good boost for the town and the people living here."

A special information line about the event is available on (01325) 467000.

In Shildon, the replica Sans Pareil locomotive will be returning to the Timothy Hackworth Victorian and Railway Museum for public viewing and will be steaming up between August 22 and October 1, with a special steam day on the last date.