TWO regular diesel services on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway have been cancelled today due to the Flying Scotsman breaking down.

The NYMR has cancelled the 1.20pm DMU service from Grosmont to Pickering and the 2.50pm trip in the opposite direction.

Today's 9.30am Flying Scotsman service from Grosmont broke down at 9.50am shortly after leaving Goathland, prompting delays which eventually led to the cancellations.

A post on the NYMR website read: "As a result of the delayed running of the Flying Scotsman specials, caused by a vacuum brake problem, the following trains have now been cancelled today.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

Paul and Jemma Miller, from Rillington, near Malton, went to watch the famous locomotive's 9.30am service this morning with their daughter Eva.

Mr Miller said: "We heard it coming from Goathland, but then it just stopped and let out loads of steam and that was it.

"We waited for about half an hour, but had to go after that.

"Another engine came and it looked as though they were going to couple it up and give it a push."

Engineers were able to repair the locomotive, but the delay led to services running an hour behind.

The Flying Scotsman finishes its tour on the NYMR today and will be on display again at the National Railway Museum in York from March 25 to May 8.

Although they didn't see the locomotive steam past, its unscheduled stop did at least allow the Miller family to get some extra photographs.

Mr Miller said: "We had been trying to watch it all week, but today was the last day on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, so we had to go for it.

"I wish it had come by, but at least this meant we got to see it for longer than we expected."