One of the world’s most famous steam engines, The Flying Scotsman, has been returned to public ownership after 41 years.

The future of the engine was secured after the National Railway Museum (NRM) in York won a seven-week auction for the 81-year-old locomotive.

Flying Scotsman Plc had decided to put the locomotive up for sale last January, after being frustrated at delays in building a visitor centre to house it in Edinburgh.

As the engine was put up for sale, there were fears it could be sold abroad.

A campaign was launched, led by the NRM and backed by the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), to keep The Flying Scotsman in the UK.

The NHMF provided £1.8m funding from its £5m budget and a further £790,000 was raised through a public appeal and a donation from Sir Richard Branson.

The Flying Scotsman was the first train to both travel non-stop from Edinburgh to London and to reach 100 mph.

It is now set to go on show at the NRM later this year. Details: www.nrm.org.uk