TORNADO, the new £3m steam locomotive returned to Wales via Severn Tunnel Junction on Monday to celebrate St David's Day.

It was travelling with the Cathedrals Express excursion from London Victoria to Cardiff and Swansea, reports Katherine Latham.

The new £3m Peppercorn class A1 pacific steam locomotive moved under it own power for the first time in 2008 after almost 20 years of construction.

The locomotive was officially named Tornado by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in February 2009. Mark Allatt, chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, said: "There could be no more appropriate day than St David's Day for Tornado to return to Wales."

Terry Summers, of Chepstow, witnessed the train as it headed back through the Severn Tunnel Junction. He said: "It was a wonderful sight. There were loads of people waiting on the platform. It was so quiet we didn't believe it was a steam train then the driver blew his whistle as he hurtled past us."