ORGANISERS of the Great Dorset Steam Fair say they are keeping their fingers crossed for fine weather this week.

More than 200,000 visitors from the UK and abroad are expected to descend on the 600-acre site at Tarrant Hinton, near Blandford, for the annual fair which runs from Wednesday until Sunday.

The show, now in its 36th year, will also mark the 50 anniversary of the National Traction Engine Trust with a special celebration.

The aim of the fair is to give the public an insight into what the English way of life was like at the turn of the century.

It plays hosts to one of the largest collections of steam engines and vintage equipment of anywhere in the world.

Every exhibit is shown in its original working capacity and includes around 300 working steam engines, 100 fairground organs and 2000 other working exhibits.

Michael Oliver, the founder of the event, said: "We hope the weather will not spoil the fair.

"This year we have got a big railway locomotive from Swanage Railway and we've got 50 extra steam engines which have never been to a rally before.

"We had to lay down a steel road to get the steam engine from Swanage in because of the weather. There is also a craft section with everything from hurdlemaking, spar making and a food hall which is bigger this year and 100 vintage cars and motorbikes."

Each day there will be a daily parade of vintage cars in the main ring and old tractors and demonstrations of steam powered threshing, steam ploughing, steam woodsawing and steam roadrolling.

The Heavy Horses will appear daily in the Heavy Horse ring with a friendly ploughing match on Wednesday.

Private drivers with light horses and varied carriages and carts will also be on show.

Other attractions appearing at the fair include motorcycles, steam miniatures and military vehicles.

And the fun carries on well into the evening with a spectacular Old Time Steam Funfair powered by around 50 Showman's Engines and featuring more than 60 fair organs.

There will be live music entertainment in the giant beer tents including The Wurzels, Gugge 2000 and Queen B a tribute band.

The Folk Marquee sees the London Philharmonic Skiffle Orchestra on the Wednesday and Irish band The Goats on the Friday.

A four piece traditional New Orleans style jazz band and several great local acts will also be appearing.

Other entertainment around the showground includes Morris dancers, Dorset Youth Marching Band, Ringwood Pipe Band, Pantastic All Steel Band and a traditional Punch and Judy Show.

All advance tickets for the event are now sold out but day tickets are still available and can be purchased at the gate on the day.

First published: August 30