THE flag-waving and Big Band Swinging spirit of Forties Britain will be celebrated in style as Severn Valley Railway’s Step Back to the 1940s Weekends make a triumphant return.

A key highlight of the SVR’s visitors calendar, the much-loved weekends will transform the entire Railway into a colourful snapshot of wartime Britain, on the weekends of June 25 and June 26, and July 2 and July 3.

Last year’s event saw more than 7,000 people descend on the Railway to soak up the nostalgic atmosphere.

This year, some very famous faces, including Sir Winston Churchill, King George VI and General Montgomery will be travelling alongside the many passengers who board the SVR’s ‘evacuation trains’ for a steam train trip along the 16-mile line, from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth in Shropshire, during both weekends.

Daring visitors can witness feats of military bravery as the hugely popular battle returns once again to Highley – where the action will take place outside the Engine House on all four days.

Icons of the airborne war effort, a Spitfire and Hurricane will make flypasts on different days, weather dependent, while hundreds of costumed re-enactors will be greeting visitors at all of the Railway’s six stations, as well as on its trains – helping to tell the wartime story along the line.

Visitors can gain a real insight into wartime life with replica air-raid shelters, bombed-out building, ARP post, Dig for Victory garden party and privy, ID card checkpoint and hospital train, as well as displays of historic civilian and military vehicles. Ladies can also head to the hair salon at Kidderminster to have their Victory Rolls done.

A group of children will also be evacuated from their school in Bewdley by a vintage bus to Kidderminster and then on to Bridgnorth by steam train on June 25 and 26, and July 2.

Clare Gibbard, SVR’s marketing and communications manager, said this year’s much-anticipated event would be a real highlight of an action-packed year for the Railway, filled with new and expanded events and famous visitors.

She said: “Our 1940s weekends are always a huge hit with visitors who come back time and again to enjoy this all-encompassing celebration of the enduring spirit of 1940s Britain.

“We are sure they will prove one of the key visitor events of our 2016 schedule, which features some new additions, including our Pacific Power – Tornado meets Scotsman event in September, our Steam on the Road event in August and our Season Finale Gala in November.”

Tickets to the 1940s weekends are available to purchase at svr.co.uk.