WHAT is said to be 'the finest showman's steam engine ever built' will be on display at the charity carols at Dingles Steam Village at 7pm on Sunday December 16.

The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu — to whom the machine was bequeathed — has selected Dingles at Lifton as the home on long-term loan of the steam engine 'Supreme'.

Estimated as being worth around £500,000, it was transported to Devon by low-loader from Southampton.

'Supreme' was restored by Jack Wharton of Witney from 1957 to 1971 and used until his death in 1994 when it was last steamed to tow his coffin to the cemetery.

Richard Sandercock of Dingles said he was very proud the Lifton site had been chosen for such an important and valuable machine.