RAIL enthusiasts have started to restore a classic locomotive to working order.

North-Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group is aiming to fully refurbish the LNER Class J72 at the Hopetown Lane carriageworks, in Darlington.

The project to restore the Darlington-built engine, which arrived on site on Tuesday, is likely to take up to two years.

The locomotive most recently hauled lightweight trains on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

It also visited other railways throughout the country.

The locomotive weighs more than 38 tons and is 29ft long.

The group is also close tocompleting the restoration of an NER Class T2.

Another Darlington-built engine, the project to revitalise it should be finished by March.

Fred Ramshaw, of the group, said: "We work at Hopetown Lane on Monday and Thursday nights.

"If anybody is interested, they can come down and see what we do."