Railway enthusiasts helped to ease the gloom stemming from the foot-and-mouth epidemic by reliving the glorious days of steam yesterday.

Many people took advantage of the Easter break to take a steam locomotive tour along one of the country's most picturesque lines.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway continues to run its steam services despite earlier fears about a lack of coal.

However, the tourism outlook remained bleak in "Heartbeat" country, where visitor numbers have dropped since the start of the foot-and-mouth crisis. Traders said visitor numbers were significantly down and businesses were facing disaster, with some takings down by as much as 40 per cent.

An Easter programme of steam train rides will be operating from the oldest existing railway on Tyneside this weekend.

The Tanfield Railway is running trips through the Causey Woods, near Stanley, from 11am to 4pm today, tomorrow and Monday.

A small chocolate egg will be given to every child passenger. There is a caf and shop and the engine sheds will also be open.

The railway is situated off the A6076 Sunniside to Stanley road.