AT least 65,000 visitors are expected at the Welland Steam and Country Rally at Woodside Farm next weekend.

Although the rally originally had its home in Much Marcle, before moving to the Three Counties Showground and Upton's Fish Meadow, society members bought the 112-acre farm in Welland as a permanent home.

This year's rally will be the seventh at the site and includes steam engines, vintage tractors, shire horses and demonstrations of old-time corn reaping. There will also be a steam-operated funfair, a Buddy Holly tribute band and plenty of craft stalls and trade stands.

Society chairman David Prout said: "There's so much to see, people don't realise. We have the original can-can girls dancing on the stage with a fairground organ. The funfair is all driven by steam engines and includes gallopers, big wheel, jets and chairplanes."

The event begins at 10am on Friday, July 26, with an auction of vintage tractors and motorbikes. It continue from 10am on Saturday and Sunday (July 27 and 28). Vintage buses will operate a free service between Malvern bus shelter, Great Malvern Station, Upton High Street and the rally site.