A move to enable passengers to dine in style on steam trains to Cromer has been praised by a former British Rail boss.

North Norfolk Railway locomotives are soon set to be puffing along the main line bringing more visitors into the resort.

The plan has been applauded by a former Network SouthEast managing director Chris Green.

Mr Green said: 'I think the tourist impact of the dining trains will be great. I am very impressed by the North Norfolk Railway, it is most professional. You would need a much bigger population for the line to be commercially viable again, but having a connection to the national railway is a good compromise.'

Mr Green, who was in charge of Network SouthEast in the 1980s, was at Weybourne Station to sign copies of his history of the company.

The gala, organised with Weybourne Traction Group, marked the 30th anniversary of the launch of the division.

Locomotives running included Indomitable that plied the route between Waterloo and the West Country.