Hallowe’en will come to the Watercress Line in haunting fashion as the heritage railway celebrates Wizard Week.

Running from October 25 to November 2 - excluding October 27 - it will offer the perfect half-term day out.

Visitors can climb aboard the Wizard Express steam train for a spine-tingling journey along the line, waving their magic wands to cast spells and stopping off at the four heritage stations, each packed with Hallowe’en surprises.

Activities will include walking in Harry Potter’s footsteps on the railway footbridge where he received his Hogwarts Express ticket in the film, exploring the Harry Potter-style carriage at Alresford and the bewitching miniature railway, and experimenting in the Slime Laboratory at Ropley with potty Professors Slugwind and Apricus.

Children can marvel at magic shows and a circus skills workshop in the Alresford goods shed, take part in Hallowe’en fancy dress competitions, get close to creepy crawlies and enjoy crafts at Ropley, and snap a spooky selfie in the photo station. Activities will run from 10am to 4pm each day and there will be unlimited train travel.

Watercress Line chief executive Rebecca Dalley said: “Wizard Week is one of our favourite times of the year. From slime making to spell casting, it’s all about creating magical memories for families. Book now for this spooktacular day out.”

The Watercress Line gets its name from its role in transporting Alresford’s watercress crop to London in the early 20th century.

It is Hampshire’s only standard gauge heritage railway and runs for ten miles between Alton and Alresford. Opened on October 2, 1865, as the Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway, it became part of British Railways until its hotly-contested closure in 1973.

The line and its services were quickly reinstated by a dedicated preservation group and today it is a top visitor attraction.