A SIERRA Leone dignitary has visited a railway museum to help celebrate the links between County Durham and Africa.

Deputy high commissioner Tamba Ngegba travelled from London to Locomotion: The National Railway Museum, at Shildon , County Durham.

His visit was part of a weekend of events at a Sierra Leone Festival.

An exhibition and festival was set up to celebrate the links between the UK National Railway Museum and the Sierra Leone National Railway Museum.

The museum has also worked with schools on projects about Sierra Leone, and some of their work was shown.

A narrow gauge locomotive from Sierra Leone and display about the Sierra Leone Government Railway remains on display.

The museum will hold a steam gala and family fun weekend from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23.

Entry is free. There will be short steam train rides on offer for a small fee. Go to nrm.org.uk