THE Severn Valley Railway will be running diesel only passenger services for the rest of this week to avoid the risk of lineside fires while temperatures remain extremely hot.

Managing director Helen Smith said the decision has been taken after a number of fires broke out last weekend - caused by sparks or cinders escaping from steam locomotives.

She said: "These can quickly catch hold, because prolonged hot weather has left the lineside vegetation tinder-dry.

“Under these circumstances, the responsible thing to do is switch to heritage diesel-hauled passenger services for the rest of this week."

She said diesel only services will run from Wednesday to Sunday and the situation will be reviewed at the start of next week and she added: "What we really need is some prolonged rain to improve the condition of the vegetation.

“This is the second time we’ve had to take this action this year, and we very much hope that our visitors will understand the reasons for it.

"We are very fortunate to have an amazing fleet of heritage diesels at the SVR, and once again they are rising to the occasion.”

In spite of the hot dry weather, the railway will be running short footplate rides at Bridgnorth and Kidderminster stations - offering people chance to experience the thrill of travelling on a steam locomotive footplate.

SVR bosses say they have risk-assessed the use of steam locomotives in this limited capacity and they are confident these can go ahead safely.

A small extra charge will be payable for the footplate rides to help cover the cost of coal.