THREE fairground relics from the early part of the last century and unearthed from storage at Dingles Steam Village, Lifton, are to be subjected to an intensive period of restoration as part of a student degree project. Fran Clarke, a third year student at the University of Lincoln, is studying for a degree in conservation and restoration. She said: ?I was keen to work on a fairground object for my final project and when I started to research this possibility, I was put in contact with Michael Smith, trustee of the Fairground Heritage Trust.? Fran travelled down to Devon at the end of the university term and spent a morning looking through the stores at Dingles, where the trust?s collection is in safekeeping. The objects she chose to take back to Lincoln to work on are an 1890s galloper from a children?s ride, a life-sized hand-carved figure of Popeye and the rocket on which he sits. She said: ?They will be worked on from January until April and will feature in an exhibition of the third year?s final projects at Chad Varah House in the Cathedral Quarter of Lincoln.? Richard Sandercock said some of the Heritage Trust?s historic collection of rides were very rare. Mr Sandercock said: ?The Popeye figure was in the centre of a ride called the Sky Rocket. It was a very big ride, built just before or after the second world war. There?s only one other existing complete one, but we have about 80% of this one.? Mr Sandercock said he was delighted that Fran was helping to restore the figure, which is made out of wood. Restoration of big rides cost ?mega bucks? he said, and Fran?s help was much appreciated. ?She?s also taken the little children?s galloper. That would literally have been suspended from the roof of the ride, which was turned with a handle to work it. We have a set of 12 gallopers, which are all looking a bit tired,? said Mr Sandercock. The trust?s collection of rides amounts to about 20 forty-foot articulated box trucks full, and includes a huge Rodeo Switchback ride dating from the 1980s. ?It was in use until about ten or 15 years ago. They are huge, these things, they weigh about 60 tons,? he said. It is hoped that eventually funding could be obtained to restore and put the collection on show as the National Fairground Museum. Meanwhile, the fully restored Popeye, his rocket and the children?s galloper will be returning to Dingles in May, in time for the re-opening of Dingles Steam Village for the summer season.