DESPITE a soggy start the Great Dorset Steam Fair roared into life yesterday.

The event in Tarrant Hinton, which runs until Sunday and usually attracts 200,000 visitors, has been hit with bad weather, resulting in poor ground conditions on its opening day.

Beth Ansell, PR manager, said those using wheelchairs, pushchairs and mobility scooters were being advised not to access the site until conditions have improved.

“We are doing everything we can to help,” she added.

Ms Ansell said otherwise the day had been a success, with lots of people having fun and enjoying the exhibits. She added: “The World War One display is going down particularly well.”