THE Flying Scotsman is to be one of the star attractions at the opening of a multi-million pound railway museum in the North-East

The world's most famous locomotive will appear at the launch of the railway museum in Shildon, County Durham, in September.

A spokesman for the National Railway Museum, which beat competitors from around the world to ensure the loco will stay in Britain, said: "The Flying Scotsman will be at the opening of the Shildon Museum."

Yesterday, Virgin Group tycoon Sir Richard Branson broke open the Champagne in front of the steam loco that he helped to save for the nation.

"We have seen too much of Britain's heritage disappear of late and the public have been fantastic in contributing towards saving this loco," he said at London's Southall Railway Centre.

"A bit more was needed and I was very happy to help."

He matched the £365,000 raised by the National Railway Museum, in York, to help save the loco for the nation and prevent it from being sold abroad.

The National Heritage Memorial Fund provided £1.8m and public donations worth a further £60,000 enabled the museum to make its bid.

The loco will be the star attraction at the opening of the museum's Railfest next month, celebrating the bicentenary of steam travel.

As well as putting in appearances at the museum's £10m Shildon offshoot, the Locomotion Museum, the Flying Scotsman will also be doing regular public runs.

It is expected that the Shildon museum, which includes the Timothy Hackworth Museum, will attract about 60,000 visitors a year.

Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster said it was tremendous news that the Flying Scotsman would be at the opening set for September 27.

He said: "The Flying Scotsman - what a flying start to the railway village.

"It is the most exciting development in Shildon for half a century.

"This will help us to celebrate the past and in doing so build a new future for the town."