Shrub and grassland next to the narrow gauge line from Alston in Cumbria to Kirkhaugh in Northumberland has become tinder dry due to record temperatures.

Three trackside fires last week were blamed on sparks from the locomotive.

Now the volunteer-run South Tynedale Railway has decided to replace tourist steam engines with diesel trains.

A spokesman for the organisation said: "On 28 July, sparks from the steam locomotive hauling passenger trains along the line that day, caused three fires to stretches of grassed trackside, which had to be extinguished later that day.

'Substantial rainfall'

"Therefore to reduce the risk of further line side fires being caused due to the dry and warm weather at present, it has been decided to suspend the use of steam locomotives on passenger trains until further notice.

"This means that trains will be diesel hauled until there has been a substantial amount of rainfall."

Steam trains were scheduled to operate on the line between 17 July and 3 September.

The South Tynedale Railway operates narrow gauge passenger trains along a two mile line along the scenic South Tyne valley between Alston and Kirkhaugh.

The line is built along part of the former 13 mile long standard gauge Haltwhistle to Alston branch, which was closed by British Rail in 1976.