VISITORS and vehicles let off steam as Chickerell enjoyed a vintage celebration.

The Chickerell Steam and Vintage Show returned for another year and was bigger and better than before, organisers said.

Samantha Spracklen, from the organising committee, said that this year the show had spread out over two fields and campsite numbers were more than triple compared to that of the previous year.

Mrs Spracklen added that this year the show also had some new exhibitors.

This included two Burrell Showman’s engines from the Dingles Fairground Museum in Devon named ‘Wait and See’ and ‘Rajah’, both which date back to the early 1900s and have been restored to their former glory.

The crowds were also able to enjoy a show from the Dorset Axemen.

Mrs Spracklen said: “This is an ideal day for us. It’s a little bit windy which is keeping the temperature down a little bit.

“The pinnacle for me is on Saturday night when you’re sat outside the beer tent with the live music playing and everyone’s having a good time with their families sitting in front of the stage eating fish and chips.”

Mrs Spracklen said she would like to thank all the volunteers including Weymouth Community Volunteers, who had stepped in to help with the organisation of the day at the last minute.

As the sun shone down on the farm, guests were entertained with a range of exhibitions and displays of vehicles from old cars to Victorian tractors.

The Portsmouth Wild West Association had returned to the show for another year to entertain guests with their wild west stories and re-enactments.

Gary Nelson, an amateur sign writer who worked on the Burrell Showman’s engines, said that the group were happy to bring the bigger engines to a small show.

He said: “It’s nice to support one of the little friendlier shows.”

The show, held on Moor Farm, Knights in the Bottom, also served as the host venue for the Mayor of Chickerell’s Civic Day.

The mayor and a party of local dignitaries visited the show today to enjoy the sights and sounds of the grounds.

Cllr John Worth said: “I think this is a great event for the area and it’s a great way to show off Dorset to the rest of the mayors.

“It brings a lot of people into the area and it grows every year.

“It’s quite a prestigious thing to get a steam fair in your local county.

Kevin Osborne, 50, from Weymouth said that this was the first year he had visited the show.

He said: “It’s a fantastic show, one of the best I’ve been to this season.

“The exhibits have been something different and they have made the show something special. They have given it a different edge.

“I’m very impressed with it.

"I would definitely come back."

The event continues tomorrow from 10am to 4pm.