A MUCH-loved children's classic steams on to the stage in Lyme Regis this weekend.

The Railway Children, by E Nesbitt, is the charming tale of a gaggle of children who live by a railway with their mother, while their father is away', but actually in prison.

The children make friends with the locals, especially the crossing keeper Perks, and get to know some of the passengers who regularly travel by train past their house.

The story is perhaps best known thanks to the film starring Jenny Agutter as the eldest daughter Robbie and Bernard Cribbins as kindly Mr Perks.

The adaptation, which comes to the Marine Theatre at Lyme Regis on Sunday, is performed by Croft Productions. With a clever mix of storytelling and drama, Mother, who is writing the story as E. Nesbitt, and daughter, Roberta, relay the tale together with Mr Perks and the old gentleman in support.

You can see The Railway children at 7pm on Sunday. Tickets are £9 plus concessions from the box office on 01297 442138.

Elsewhere this weekend, veteran funnyman Jimmy Tarbuck is at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil tomorrow night.

Jimmy returns to take his audience down memory lane, including reminiscences of Bing Crosby and John Lennon. The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £17.50. Call 01935 422884.

A number of homes are also throwing open their gardens this weekend in aid of the fundraising National Gardens Scheme.

Among them is Duckdown Cottage, Shaftesbury Road, Child Okeford DT11 8EQ, a new garden covered by the scheme, which is opening for the first time on Sunday, May 25 between 2pm and 5pm.

The garden is on a south-west facing slope overlooking open fields. It contains mixed cottage borders, formal areas and pretty meandering stream incorporating more than 350 varieties of plants, many to encourage wildlife.

There is also a large Victorian plant house, gravelled courtyard, raised deck terrace, kitchen garden and seating areas for quiet reflection. Teas will be available.