Politician turned TV presenter Michael Portillo was spotted filming at a Dorset heritage railway over the weekend.

He was seen on Sunday, April 16, at Corfe Castle Railway Station at around 11.30am together with a camera crew.

It is thought the former Secretary of State turned documentarian may have been filming for a new series Great British Railway Journeys in which he explores how lines built and changed communities while referring to George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guidebook.

Dorset Echo:

Dorset Echo:

This is not the former MP for Enfield Southgate's first time exploring Dorset's rails. The county was featured in series three of the Great British Railway Journeys in 2012. At the time, in addition to visiting the Swanage Railway, he also explored the history of Weymouth and Portland.

Corfe Castle train station was built in 1885 and is operated by Swanage Railway. The station runs steam and diesel passenger trains along the five-and-a-half miles of rail from Norden station, to Corfe Castle, and down to Swanage.

The line was pulled up after being closed by British Rail in 1972 but has been rebuilt by volunteers. It is volunteer-led and managed by the Swanage Railway Trust, a registered charity.

The BBC declined to comment.