THE wartime spirit proved just the ticket for a record number of visitors to Severn Valley Railway's 1940s weekends. blitz victim Sally Harris with a caged bird.

Thousands of folk donned wartime garb as the 16-mile Kidderminster to Bridgnorth line was transported back in time for the last two weekends.

Everyone from Nazis and GIs to land girls enjoyed the spectacle of German bomber raids, Hawker Hurricane planes flying overhead and the big band sound which played into the night.

They were also confronted by spivs on the line, did double-takes at the Winston Churchill and George Formby lookalikes and marvelled at more than 80 authentic military and civilian vehicles. Winston Churchill lookalike Robert Burns.

SVR marketing manager John Leach predicted visiting figures would top last year's record 12,000.

He said: "We had two great weekends with no major disasters. Victoria Hunt enjoys the weekend.

"It seems more and more people are dressing up each year and the authenticity of the outfits is staggering. Michelle Bowler and James Bristow at Kidderminster station.

"With the amount of visitors we could arguably run the event for another weekend but the volunteers deserve a well-earned rest and the re-enactment groups have other venues booked." Jamie Walters mans his machine gun.