THE now legendary Pickering Wartime Weekend proved to be the best ever at the weekend as thousands of people packed the town bringing it to a standstill as it stepped back in time more than 60 years.

Wartime jeeps, tanks and other military vehicles, together with much cherished cars of the era, replaced the usual congestion of modern models, while the railway station was transformed into a snapshot of Brief Encounter.

But the weekend commemorations of Pickering in 1943 not only gave locals and visitors a chance to sing, dance and relive the wartime years, but it gave a much needed boost to the local economy after the devastating summer floods.

At the Memorial Hall, where volunteers are still raising thousands of pounds to restore the floor after it buckled under the flood water in June, teams had been making sandwiches and baking since 5am, said Mal Danks, one of the team leaders. Their efforts helped feed the crowds, many dressed in wartime clothes and uniforms, as they listened to the music of Glen Miller.

The success of the food-preparing bonanza, which took the form of a cafe and soup kitchen, helped swell the coffers of the Memorial Hall, she said. "It was hard work, but a fantastic success, " she said.

Meanwhile at the Salvation Army's charity shop manager Vivian Moore saw her weekend takings reach the usual figure for a month as punters anxious to pick up a bargain of a wartime style dresses or suits wrestled with other potential buyers amid the tightly packed racks of clothes.

Mrs Moore said she was confident that this year's total would match last year's takings of more than £18,300. "All that money is spent by the Salvation Army in Yorkshire, " she added.

Some will benefit the flood victims of South Yorkshire, including Doncaster from where one Salvationist, Mrs Nora Lee, was making her annual visit to Pickering.

She said: "We are very grateful because so many people were hit by the floods in our town, and still are."

Nora, 80 this week, was with her wheelchair bound husband, John, who was proudly wearing his uniform of the Yorkshire Lincolnshire Regiment and the medals he won in Egypt.

The weekend gave the Royal British Legion an opportunity to promote its annual Poppy Day collection and to recruit sellers.

Lionel Turner and David Balmford, who manned the RBL stall at the top of the Market Place, said they had been delighted with the response. They are now looking forward to record collections for veterans of all the conflicts in the last 60-plus years.

Among the biggest attraction of the weekend were members of the Homefront Honeys, a group of women reacting wartime scenes. "We celebrate the role of women in the war, " said Caroline Johnson, one of its members.

All dressed in the uniform of the ATS, the women's displays of wartime memorabilia attracted keen interest, especially a morse code signal. "I've been explaining to youngsters that it was the fore-runner of their mobile-phone text messaging!" said Caroline.

"Ironically, morse code now seems to be making a comeback, " she added. "A lot of women were real heroes in the war, because while they weren't on the front line, they were back home bringing up young families, single-handed, and working in the munition factories."

Nearby in the grounds of the Beck Isle Museum, wartime jeeps - one for sale at £7,500 - and a tank proved a popular attraction for youngsters.

The museum itself was able to benefit from the influx of visitors, said volunteer Stephen Jepson. "We needed visitors because we are still recovering from the flood damage."

Treasurer Keith Ware added: "The floors are gradually drying out but the damage is going to cost £10,000 to repair, and so far we have £3,500. Pickering has certainly been busier than ever for the wartime weekend which has been invaluable to many organisations such as ours, as well as the businesses."

Many pubs joined in the spirit of the weekend offering NAAFI menus of hot pot and bream sausage, mash and beans, all priced in pre-decimal currency.

Meanwhile at Pickering station, focus for much of the weekend activity, the platforms were packed to capacity when The Great Marquess arrived hauling carriages crammed with rail enthusiasts keen to relive the days of steam by journeying over the North York Moors to Grosmont.

Singer and musician Paul Harrison entertained the crowds thronging the bridge and every inch of the platforms with his George Formby-style routine.

On Sunday a service was held at the station to commemorate those on the railway who lost their lives in the war. Wreaths were laid, with the Salvation Army Band playing for the hymns and after the service.

Trish Dunn, who helped mastermind much of the arrangements for the weekend, said: "It's an event which seems to go from strength to strength each year. There has been a wonderful atmosphere and it's given Pickering a real lift because it has suffered badly this summer as a result of the floods."