Until now the Battlefield Line - which runs for five miles around the town of Market Bosworth - has used diesel trains.

However, its owners say they are converting to steam trains at the beginning of September in an effort to boost the number of tourists.

Stuart Gamble, of the Shackerstone Railway Society, which runs the rail line, said: "Steam has a universal appeal.

"People like to see the men working really hard to get them to their destination."

A museum is based at Shackerstone station and the steam trains will run every weekend from 7 September.