THE only steam rally in the country to take place in a town centre is rolling into Tavistock on June 6.

Organised by the town?s Robey Trust, the rally will fill the centre of Tavistock with steam vehicles from two-inch scale to full size, classic cars, motorbikes, commercial and on this 60th anniversary of D Day, military vehicles.

Trailer rides behind traction engines and steam rollers will be available or, if preferred, a ride on the back of a steam lorry may be taken and there will be an Aladdin?s Cave of exhibits in the pannier market.

The dedication and great skill involved in model engineering can be seen and even sampled with a ride on a five-inch railway or tram.

Stationary or barn engines will be chugging away around the pannier market perimeter and some of the Harford Bridge collection of horse-drawn carts and carriages will also be on show.

Bedford Square and parts of Duke Street and West Street will be closed for the event between the hours of 10am and 6pm and diversions will be signed.

Town mayor Jenny Metcalf is officially opening the rally at 2pm but activities begin at 11am, when 20 preserved tractors take to the roads on the Frank Roffey Tractor Trail.

Members of the Robey Trust have been working hard to try and get Stumbles the steamroller back into working order for this event after some boiler refurbishments.

Stumbles was the Tavistock town road roller that was used at the end of its working life as a playground attraction in the Meadows.

It was rescued and restored by a small group of people who eventually formed the Robey Trust in 1983 and are now celebrating the organisation?s 21st anniversary.

The newly re-opened Tavistock Museum will be putting on a special exhibition over the summer of Robey Trust artefacts, pictures and drawings in their Court Gate premises which will be open on steam fair day.

John Turner, a trustee of the Robey Trust Ltd, praised the organising committee for all their hard work to enable the steam fair to happen.

?They are only a small group but the end product is well worth the many hours put in to get all the exhibitors to the show,? he said.

He also praised Tavistock Town Council for its assistance.

Anyone available to sell ride and entrance tickets and refreshments on the day is invited to call John Turner on 01822 612633.