Steam engine at last year's event

THE annual Steam Fair and Country Show will take place at Stotfold Mill tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday, celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Visitors can look forward to vintage fair rides, helicopter flights, displays of steam engines and demonstrations of milling. There will also be arena events to entertain the whole family.

Wryngwyrm, the UK’s oldest and largest Dark Ages re-enactment society, will be invading the mill for the weekend. Alongside a number of full-scale battles, they will be offering sword skill lessons and tips on how to pick off enemies using a traditional English long bow. If you want a more laid-back experience, there will be a host of other activities, such as weaving, leatherwork, storytelling and cooking, in the Viking Village.

Captain Neville’s Flying Circus team will burst balloons, cut ribbons and drop flour bombs while flying vintage aeroplanes built in the 1940s and 1950s.

The Joseph Peace Fire Stunt Spectacular will take your breath away with dangerous and amazing fire stunts, including Joseph spinning on a burning gyroscope.

The Saunders collection, which is the biggest working steam collection in Europe, will be showing a number of new items at this year’s show, including a steam bus.

During the Essex Dog Display Team show, you will see agility races, controlled attack dogs apprehending ‘fleeing criminals’, and dogs retrieving hidden treasures. The highlight of the display will be a 100ft by 8ft high ramp which the dogs negotiate at high speed through hoops of fire.

The Steam Fair and Country Show will take place at Stotfold Mill, on Mill Lane in Stotfold, from 10.30am until 5pm on both days. Tickets are £6 for adults, £3 for senior citizens and children aged four to 16, and under fours get in free.