Heavy rain and a disrupted service did not dampen the spirits of train enthusiasts at the North Norfolk Railway Steam Gala today (Saturday).

The attraction on the heritage Poppy Line, which runs between Sheringham and Holt, started yesterday and continues tomorrow, March 16 and March 17.

A ticket clerk said half of the eight planned engines were not running today because of weather and 'mechanical problems'.

He said: 'The weather has really affected us. It is worse than the weather yesterday.'

He added the engines that were not running today would not be part of the gala tomorrow or next weekend.

The Britannia engine - the star attraction - was one of the four locomotives not on the railway today.

Engines which were in action were Black Prince, owned by wildlife artist David Shepherd, a Lancashire Fusilier 45407, the GWR Large Prairie 4141 and a J15.

The ticket clerk added: 'The British spirit has come out and people have got on with it. The event has not been spoilt. People just get on with it.'

He said several visitors to the gala had come from more than 200 miles away.

Young children and their parents and grandparents were among the crowds of enthusiasts that surrounded the engines.

For more information and for tickets about the gala weekends, visit www.nnnrailway.co.uk or call 01263 820800.