IT was something of a Brief Encounter moment for 94-year-old Annie Hanson when she paid a surprise visit to Skipton station - courtesy of her son Terry.

He thought it would be a treat for her to meet the famous locomotive, Flying Scotsman, which shares the same birth year as Annie.

The encounter was a surprise treat after Terry turned up at her home - she is a resident at Ashfield Care Home in Carlton Road, Skipton - with the words: "I'm taking you out for an hour."

Terry, a lifelong railway enthusiast has often told his mother that she shares the same birth year as the world famous Flying Scotsman steam engine.

And knowing it was due to call in at the station that morning, it was an opportunity not to be missed. Her other son Malcolm also joined the party.

Terry said: "Everything needed to be right - Annie having a good day, fine calm weather and the train perfectly timed to fit in with her being wheel chaired up to see it and then make it back for noon dinner.

"In the event everything went perfectly and as Flying Scotsman almost crept into the station. It was lovely to see mam’s face light up.

"We were able to have a quick chat with the crew and inform them that she shares the same birth year as their engine. Better was to come when mam nearly jumped out of her wheelchair when the engine’s whistle blew to depart.

"Mam said she would have loved to go on the train and repeated over and over to me how much she'd enjoyed seeing it."

The engine emerged from Doncaster works on February 24 1923, Annie's birthday being shortly later on May 2.

Flying Scotsman arrived in Skipton hauling the first of a series of summer York-Carlisle-York expresses known as ‘The Waverley’.

The service is due to run on Sundays throughout July and August excepting July 30 and picks up at both Keighley and Skipton.

Flying Scotsman is also due to pass through Skipton - north bound only - with “The Hadrian” on Saturday, July 29.