MORE than 4,500 passengers travelled on a Dorset heritage railway during a three-day fundraising steam gala.

Proceeds from the Grand Steam Gala are going towards the development and extension of the volunteer-run Swanage Railway which runs steam and diesel trains over almost six miles of railway between Norden and Swanage.

Visiting steam locomotives included the sister engine of the world speed recording-breaking Mallard and an engine which featured in the classic 1970 film The Railway Children.