SUNDAY promises to be a summer sizzler with buses, bikes, fire engines and a sightseeing tour of the borough’s transport gems taking centre stage at the heart of town.

The North West Museum of Road Transport will be the target for a family fun day between 10am and 4pm and the base for Heritage Rail Trail trips in a 52 year-old Leyland Atlantean double deck bus resplendent in Ribble Bus’s red and cream livery.

Passengers can take in the atmosphere of the Rainhill trials of 1829 prior to the opening of the Liverpool-Manchester rail line on September 15, 1830

The two hour tour also takes in Newton and Sankey viaducts, and the one-time loco mecca of Vulcan Village with expert information en route from tour guide Keith Naylor.

Souvenir booklets will be available and inside the museum there will be lots of stalls, an exhibition by Rainhill Model Railway Club and refreshments available from a fire service Austin K 7 canteen van that dates from 1943.

Another treat for golden oldie fans is a vintage bus service that will operate between the Hall Street museum and Lea Green station.