A Wiltshire farmer who hasn’t been on a train for 50 years was given a special Father’s Day treat by his family on Sunday with a steam locomotive trip to Dartmouth.

The family of 93-year-old grandfather Bob Cradock, from Hilperton, paid for a first-class excursion trip on the English Riviera Express to south Devon.

Mr Cradock is pictured with his family, Sue and Steve Roberts and Ian and Joanne Cradock, at Bradford on Avon railway station getting ready to board the Royal Scot steam train.

Mr Cradock, of The Knap, comes from a well-known Hilperton farming family and his wife, Andrée, died earlier this year at the Royal United Hospital in Bath aged 93.

He said: “I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I can definitely recommend it.

“I can’t remember the last time I went on a train, it’s so long ago but I think it was probably on holiday to Weymouth.

“The best bit was seeing the sea for a change. I haven’t seen the sea for years.

“We went on a ferry from Kingswear to Dartmouth and then went on a paddle steamer up the River Dart and into the English Channel.

“On the way back, we had a six-course dinner on board the train. It was the longest dinner I have ever had.”

The trip was booked by Mr Cradock’s daughter, Sue Roberts, 64, earlier this year after a brochure dropped through his letter box and she asked if he would like to go.

“He said it would be lovely, so I went ahead and booked tickets for the five of us,” she said.

“Dad lost mum earlier this year and it’s been a long time since he’s been anywhere because of the farm. I thought it would be nice for him to get out and to give him a boost.

“It is only through the dedication of the staff that these trips are able to be put on.”

Another couple on the trip were Tim Williams, 75, and his wife Kathy, 64,n from Middle Rank in Bradford on Avon.

The couple dressed up for the occasion and were also among the 60 passengers waiting at the station for the 1927-built steam locomotive to arrive.

Mr Williams said: "It was stunning. It was really good from the word go. We were well looked after and the train was marvellous. We very much enjoyed it."

The 46100 Royal Scot pulled the carriages from Bristol Temple Meads to Dartmouth in the South Hams.

The English Riviera Express excursion was organised by Saphos Trains and was fully booked, with a further 33 passengers clambering aboard at Westbury.

The train stops at Bradford on Avon, Westbury, Frome and Taunton. It was fully booked with 225 passengers enjoying the trip.

Another English Riviera Express excursion will call at Bradford on Avon and Westbury on Sunday, June 27 and is also fully booked.

On Sunday, 51 passengers will board the train at Bradford on Avon and 27 at Westbury, making a total of 212 passengers booked for the trip.