AN estimated 6,000 visitors made tracks for Severn Valley Railway's annual three-day autumn steam gala.

Although actress, Jenny Agutter - star of the film version of The Railway Children - arrived late due to the cancellation of her scheduled service train, she more than made up for lost time by staying longer than intended for a book signing at Kidderminster station on aturday.

Last weekend's event also proved profitable for charity, as a 58-hour travel marathon by a Bewdley couple generated around £2,000.

John Leach, SVR's marketing manager, said the gala - which had a Great Western theme - "went very well", with attendance on Friday, Saturday and Sunday "about on a par with what we did last year and the year before, so we're very pleased".

He added that Miss Agutter must have signed "hundreds" of copies of The Illustrated Railway Children - a new version of the literary favourite, produced to mark the centenary of the first publication of Edith Nesbit's novel.

Some of the proceeds from book sales on the day went to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, which the actress supports.

Neil and Linda Cocksedge, of Woodthorpe Drive, Bewdley were tired but happy after completing 32 journeys, totalling 500 miles, on the SVR line over the three gala days.

The money will be split among the railway company's rolling stock trust, All Saints Church, Wribbenhall, Landmine Action and Macmillan Cancer Relief.

"We did it and we survived," said New Zealand-born Mrs Cocksedge, 52. "We were fairly shattered when we got home but we weren't as exhausted as we had expected to be. We had a lot of support and encouragement from people."

She added: "Friends joined us for 13 of the train journeys. That really kept us going and we're absolutely overwhelmed with the generosity of everyone."

The couple anticipate even more cash from their efforts will go to their chosen charities in the form of tax relief benefit through Gift Aid.