THOUSANDS of people will converge on the North-East today for a celebration of the region's railway heritage.

It was the 175th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world's first passenger railway, on Wednesday.

The three-day Darlington Railway and Arts Festival to mark the event starts tonight.

Throughout the weekend, there will be music, fun and games and a chance to be a record-breaking dancer.

The festival opens at the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, in North Road, at 7.30pm, with a military band concert and firework display.

Tomorrow's entertainment is of a musical nature, with the Full Head of Steam concert, featuring the Whiskey Priests, Skerne and Blues Train, in a celebration of folk, jazz and rhythm and blues, from 1pm to 9pm.

On Sunday, there will be an attempt to break the world record for the longest Locomotion dance, to the sound of the Little Eva classic, with at least 1,000 people expected to take part at 10am.

There will also be performances by the Lamm Youth Dance Theatre and Wheeltappers, and children from the McDonald's Our Town project.

The afternoon's events will be brought to a close by the Atlantic Soul Messengers, a soul funk band.

There will also be vintage bus rides from the Skerne Bridge near the museum to the brick train sculpture at Morton Park on Saturday and Sunday.

The festival has been organised by Darlington company A Full Head of Steam, and Aria, from Stockton, and sponsored by Darlington Borough Council. The Northern Echo is the official media sponsor for the celebrations.

Throughout the festival, the railway centre will be open, but organisers have warned there will be no parking in the surrounding area, other than for residents and orange badge holders.

There will be a chance to win tickets for four on the Orient Express in England, in a competition based on the region's railway heritage.

At the centre, there will be opportunities to hear the legend of the North Road Station ghost, and view paintings from the Guild of Railway Artists and an exhibition of local crafts.

Tickets for the festival and competition entry forms are available from Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, telephone (01325) 460532.

Day tickets cost £2.50 for adults, or weekend passes are £5, which covers entry to the museum and the events