World-famous tourist ‘town’ scraps popular train attraction this weekend after emergency alert for wildfires

A WORLD famous museum has suspended one of its most popular attractions after wildfire alerts were issued across the nation. Staff said the service would not be running over the weekend, following the Government’s warning to halt any activities that could spark a blaze. The Beamish Museum in Country Durham has scrapped its steam train service Credit: Ryan Gray The team have decided to close the popular attraction due to the risk of fire Credit: Alamy As temperatures remain high, the Beamish Museum has decided to call off its steam train service, an iconic feature of this time-warp town. The ‘living museum’ covers 300 acres and gives visitors a taste of what life was back in the 1820s through to the 1950s, with replica pubs, shops, homes and businesses. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The museum has asked people to be “mindful” of the hot weather and dry conditions and refrain from smoking on the site. County Durham firefighters have barely come up for air this week, with over 1,000 emergency call-outs in the space of seven days. It comes as the country remains on high alert after a series of devastating wildfires Credit: Alamy The museum said it would be closing the attraction to minimise the risk of a blaze Credit: Alamy The popular UK attraction gives visitors a taste of what life was like from the 1820s through to the 1950s Credit: Alamy County Durham fire service has received over 1,000 call-outs in the last week Credit: Alamy This included a combine harvester blaze in Tudhoe on Wednesday, which sparked a wildfire covering more than 10,000 square metres of farmland. Elsewhere in Northbridge Park in St Helen Auckland, fire services were called to battle a rapidly spreading blaze on Saturday. The Government sent out an emergency alert on Friday evening warning millions to avoid lighting anything that could spark a fire, including BBQs and garden incinerators. The Government issued an alert last night warning people about the ‘very high risk’ of wildfires Retailers have been asked to remove all disposable BBQs from their shelves Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the alerts should be taken “seriously” given the exceptionally high chance of wildfires. Most read in The Sun The warning, which lit up people’s phones with a raucous siren at around 7pm yesterday evening, read: “There is a very high risk of wildfires nationally. “Residents, landowners and visitors should not undertake any activity that could start a fire, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks.” It added that “even a small flame” could develop rapidly into a major fire, affecting homes and businesses and putting lives at risk. It comes as fire ripped through homes in Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, forcing residents to evacuate Credit: Sky News Shocking aerial shots show homes gutted by the inferno Credit: SWNS Retailers have been asked to remove all disposable barbecues immediately. The measures will remain in place while the risk of wildfires remains high. Chief Fire Officer Steve Helps praised firefighters and staff who went “above and beyond”, thanking the public for their support. He said: “I want to thank all our amazing staff for their dedication to protecting the communities during this incredibly busy time and in such challenging circumstances. “I also want to thank the public, who have reported incidents and taken on board our safety messages during the hot weather, such as packing a picnic, not a BBQ, to help reduce the risk of a wildfire from starting. “We are so grateful for all the kind words and support offered to our crews as they continue to protect County Durham and Darlington. It means so much.” Comment now