Norfolk police called out to battle re-enactment following reports of gunfire
The 1940's Railway at War weekend. Picture: Mark Bailey - Credit: Mark Bailey
Second World War battle re-enactors got more than they bargained for when police arrived following reports of gunfire at a rural railway station.
It happened during the two-day 1940s Railway at War event , organised by a group of volunteers for the Mid-Norfolk Railway, which saw four stops on its line from Dereham to Wymondham transformed into stations during wartime Britain.
Officers headed to the scene at Yaxham station, off Station Road, on Sunday August 5 after one resident reported hearing shots from 'what seemed to be an automatic assault rifle being fired'.
On arrival though, it was discovered that the shots had come from a demonstration model which 'would have sounded like a real gun being fired', police said.
Posting on Twitter, Breckland Police said PC Adam Wengrow, one of the officers who attended, 'had a spiffing time' and is pictured posing on a wartime motorcycle with members of one re-enactment group.
Commenting on the drama, the organisers of the event said they were surprised officers had arrived as police had been informed three weeks before the event to expect battle noises.
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But a spokesperson for Norfolk Police said although they knew about the event, they had to respond to the report to ensure the safety of the public.
The incident did not take away from the fun of the event though and passengers enjoyed travelling on steam trains and dressing up as soldiers or civilians.
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Guests also took advantage of savouring a beer from Elmtree Brewery, sipping a cup of tea from the tea stall, or getting a new look from one of the vintage hairdressers.
General manager George Saville said: 'It's been our most successful event to date.
'We've had Dad's Army in Dereham, 1940s vehicles and vehicle shows, as well as displays of weapons and how people used to live.
'It's been developing over the years and we've been blessed with the weather.
'It just shows people are more and more interested in these types of event.'
- Are you organising an exciting event in your local community? Contact reporter Donna-Louise Bishop by email or ring 01362 854705.
