Full steam ahead with Shirley

DAME Shirley Bassey is being honoured in her home country of Wales, where a steamengine carriage is to be named after her.

Dame Shirley, 81, who was born in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, will attend a naming ceremony at the Snowdon Mountain Railway in May.

The singer, whose hits include Big Spender and Goldfinger, said: “I always look forward to going back to Wales, but to be honoured by Snowdon Mountain Railway makes this visit in May extra special.”

She is the latest Welsh singer to be given the honour, after Sir Bryn Terfel and Katherine Jenkins. Alan Kendall, boss of the Snowdon Mountain Railway, said: “We thought we’d save the best till last.”