THE guardians of the bygone age of steam will gather in the North-East this weekend.

Members of the National Traction Engine Trust from Britain, Europe and the USA, will be at a training weekend and traction engine display event at Beamish Museum on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Twelve engines from across the region, made by the likes of Foden, Fowler and Marshall, will be on display.

The star of the show will be a 12-ton steam roller from the 1890s. Contact the museum on (0191) 370 4000 or visit the web site www.beamish.org.uk