A major engineering project is being carried out by Bure Valley Railway for one of its locomotives to be switched from coal to oil firing for when the risk of lineside fires is high.

Engineers from the Aylsham workshops have developed a system which means the locomotive, No.8 John of Gaunt, will run on coal most of the time, but can be converted to oil in around 72 hours.

Recent dry spells caused the railway to close (Image: Bure Valley Railway)

This comes after recent dry spells in which the railway suspended steam services because sparks from coal-fired locomotives could start fires along the line.

A field fire caused a number of road closures near Aylsham (Image:........

© Eastern Daily Press