The volunteers of the Great Laxey Mine Railway have confirmed the island’s smallest line will reopen this weekend.

Opening on Saturday, the railway will return to steam for the first time since March as it carries passengers up the Laxey valley towards the former mines.

Director Ian Smith said: ’The trains ran for the first and only time this year in March, as part of the "On Your Doorstep" event and it had been feared that there would be no more running days this year with even the popular Hop Tu Naa Trains at risk.

’But the volunteers are now determined to make the most of the shortened season and put a smile back on the faces of passengers old and new and banishing those lockdown blues.’

The Great Laxey Mine Railway will open on Saturday from 11am to 4.30pm.

Meanwhile the Groudle Glen Railway will also be firing back into life this weekend. The railway’s trains will be filling the air around Groudle with smoke and whistles from 11am on Sunday, July 5.

The railway will then be opening from 11am to 4.30pm on Sundays and from 7pm to 9pm on Wednesday evenings for the rest of the summer.

A spokesman said: ’Now things have been relaxed in the Isle of Man, do come and see us and enjoy a great family day out or maybe an essential part of your staycation this summer.’

There is currently no word on when the government owned heritage railways will be operating.