HUNDREDS of people took the last opportunity to see the first steam engine built in Britain for 48 years before it leaves the region.

But the best treat of the open day at the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust works in Darlington fell to the mayor, Coun Coun Ian Haszeldine.

He was invited to climb aboard for a footplate ride on the A1 Peppercorn class locomotive, which the trust recently completed after an 18-year project that cost £2.9m.

The engine, named Tornado, will shortly leave the Hopetown Lane works for Loughborough to take part in trials on the Great Central Railway.

Coun Haszeldine, said: "The ride on a footplate is an experience of a lifetime and very few people get the chance to do this.

"I've looked forward to it for a long time and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was absolutely superb.

"The open day was really packed. There was a big queue of people waiting to get on the train. It just goes to show the interest, not just in Darlington, but nationally, in this project."