A CLASSIC line-up of heavy metal plus scores of other attractions can be seen today as the Great Dorset Steam Fair opens.

For the first time, the dates of what claims to be the world’s largest heritage and cultural event showcasing our national industrial, agricultural and leisure history, have been changed in a bid to attract more people.

Bringing it forward a week to cover the bank holiday weekend avoids clashing with the school term and other big events like the Dorset County Show.

The five-day show is held on a 600-acre site at Tarrant Hinton featuring 1,000 trade stands and 2,000 exhibitors including vintage and steam-powered vehicles.

The event will include a display commemorating those who lost their lives in the Battle of the Somme a century ago. Soldiers and horses will take part in reenactments to depict the opening days of the gruelling battle.

Martin Oliver, managing director of the Great Dorset Steam Fair, said: “We hope in a small way to show the young people of today of the utter futility of war when thousands of young men die in a futile attempt to gain a few yards of ground.

“The trenches on show this year were built for the 2014 Steam Fair but have been greatly enhanced for this year’s special event.”

The fair has been running for almost 50 years and routinely attracts 200,000 visitors.

The event has expanded its music festival offering for 2016 with extended hours and a bumper crop of new acts.

There are six concert stages on the steam fair site with music running until midnight on Thursday and Friday, and until 12.30am on Saturday and Sunday.

The outdoor concert stage remains free for steam fair visitors and offers a full line-up of live music all day on Saturday and Sunday including The Wurzels, Lionstar, King Rocker, Skimmity Hitchers, The Maz Mitrenko Band, and The Darker My Horizon.

Others stages include the Real Ale Marquee, Michael Oliver, Black Bull Marquee, Shires Marquee and the Countryman Acoustic Stage.

For more information see gdsf.co.uk