Steam enthusiasts are making their way to Blandford Forum in Dorset ahead of this year’s Great Dorset Steam Fair.

The event, which gets under way on Thursday, will showcase hundreds of period steam traction engines and heavy mechanical equipment from all eras, and is celebrating its 50th year.

The Great Dorset Steam Fair
A Burrell traction engine makes its way along Millers Lane towards the village of Horton, Dorset, on the way to the Great Dorset Steam Fair (Ben Birchall/PA)
The Great Dorset Steam Fair
An enthusiast jumps from a William Foster traction engine as dozens of steam-powered vehicles gather at a pub ahead of the event (Ben Birchall/PA)
The Great Dorset Steam Fair
A steam enthusiast cleans his Robey traction engine. Organisers predict this year’s event will be a record-breaker (Ben Birchall/PA)
The Great Dorset Steam Fair
Experts clean their Burrell traction engines. The event promises a ‘unique blend of nostalgia and entertainment’ (Ben Birchall/PA)
The Great Dorset Steam Fair
Steam wagons sit as they get up to pressure (Ben Birchall/PA)
The Great Dorset Steam Fair
Cleaning the plaque on this Aveling & Porter traction engine (Ben Birchall/PA)
The Great Dorset Steam Fair
Organisers say the show will feature 500 full-size steam engines (Ben Birchall/PA)
The Great Dorset Steam Fair
Traction engines are prepared for the road (Ben Birchall/PA)
The Great Dorset Steam Fair
A Burrell Showman’s Road locomotive makes its way to Dorset (Ben Birchall/PA)
The Great Dorset Steam Fair
Cyclists overtake a steam road roller (Ben Birchall/PA)
The Great Dorset Steam Fair
The event will run until Monday August 27 (Ben Birchall/PA)