CELEBRATIONS to mark the 175th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway take place this weekend with thousands of visitors expected to enjoy the fun.

The Darlington Railway and Arts Festival takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with music, games and the chance to be a record breaker.

Taking place at the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, on North Road, the festival kicks off on Friday with a military band concert and grand firework display, starting at 7.30pm.

Saturday's entertainment will include music by A Full Head of Steam's bands the Whiskey Priests, Skerne and Blues Train, with 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 hit, with at least 1,000 people expected to take part. To join in, meet at 10am.

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

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

Throughout the weekend, the centre and museum will be open, but there will be no parking in the surrounding area, other than for residents and orange badge holders.

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

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

There will also be vintage bus rides from the Skerne Bridge to the brick train throughout the day on Satur-day and Sunday.

Tickets for the festival and competition entry forms are available from the 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.

In Shildon on Sunday, the Timothy Hackworth Museum is at the centre of celebrations as more than 200 exhibits chart the history of transport.

The day runs from 10.30am to 3.30pm and included in the display are a working model of Shildon station in the mid twentieth century, stationary engines, shire horses, a rare Bedford electric car, a Star lorry and fire engines that served in Crook and Barnard Castle