Railway pauses steam trains after wildfire warning

A heritage railway in Leicestershire has paused its steam locomotive services following the latest government wildfire warnings.

Great Central Railway (GCR), which runs between Loughborough and Leicester North stations, has said it will operate diesel-hauled trains only until further notice.

An emergency alert was sent out on Friday afternoon to people living in England and Wales warning the public not to light anything, such as barbecues, firepits, and fireworks that could cause a fire.

In a social media post, GCR said: "We hope to welcome steam back to the Great Central Railway as soon as it is safe to do so."

GCR added: "During the recent hot weather, we have continued to operate steam services with additional precautions in place.

"However, following the latest guidance, we have taken the decision to temporarily revert to diesel-only operations.

"Don't let that stop you from joining us. Our railway is still a fantastic day out.

"We appreciate your understanding and continued support."

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