OKEHAMPTON is to receive a well deserved shot in the arm for its tourist industry on May 26 when a 12-coach special train brings 650 visitors on a day trip to the town.

This will be the first train Minehead-based organisers Cheshire Railtours have brought to the area — the company is better known for its regular programme of excursions that start in the area.

The Dartmoor Prince, in its livery of blue and white, begins its journey at London Victoria, picking up passengers on the way at Wimbledon, Surbiton, Basingstoke and Salisbury and will give people from the Home Counties a rare chance to travel to Okehampton direct by train.

It will echo the days when through expresses travelled regularly from the capital to Okehampton, before savage cuts to the network in the 1960s.

The train will be formed of a class 47 diesel locomotive and twelve 'Mark 1' coaches and will give passengers an afternoon in Okehampton before returning to London in the evening.

The trip will include a brief visit to Meldon Viaduct.

Okehampton Chamber of Trade is planning to arrange coaches to bring passengers into the town.

'The town is going to be heaving anyway with the music festival we are planning for that weekend so this train is coming in just at the right time,' he said.

'It will give a boost to local businesses and people will go away with a great impression of Okehampton.'