A CHAIN gang was among the guests at the second day of the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

The visitors to the 600-acre site near Blandford weren't convicts, however, but civic leaders from across the district wearing their chains of office.

The mayors had been invited by Cllr Michael Oliver, the chairman of North Dorset District Council, in celebration of the authority's civic day.

"We took about 20 mayors and their escorts and showed them the organisation that is involved in such a big effort as the steam fair," he said.

More than 200,000 people are expected to visit the fair during its four-day run, putting the event on a scale with the Glastonbury Festival.

Thousands of campers are spending the four-day festival under canvas at the Tarrant Hinton site, with punters and exhibitors travelling the length and breadth of the country to attend.

Peter Henderson had travelled from the West Midlands to show off his penny-farthing bicycle, resplendent in British Racing Green and equipped with a wicker pannier.

"I've ridden over 3,000 miles on this bicycle, and worn out three sets of solid rubber tyres.

"The difficult part is knowing how to start and stop. The rest is easy," said Mr Henderson.

"I leave it unlocked when I visit the bank and the staff ask if I'm worried it will be stolen.

"But I tell them no one can ride it!" he joked.

The whiskered engineer said he had been coming to the steam fair for 16 years and considered it one of the most enjoyable on a calendar of Victorian-themed events to which he had taken his exotic machine.

Steam engines, rock bands and a fun fair are among the attractions on offer.

For more information, visit the website at gdsf.co.uk