All steamed up about Landy that’s a hoot!

which was Frank’s time constructing the model steam engine kit. She already has an MoT and is awaiting the green light from Department of Transport inspectors before taking to the road.

Frank, who invented Bunkabin units for site worker accommodation, now also runs a company which installs temporary multi-storey car parks.

He said: “It is just something completely different and gets lots of smiles. She may be slow but always attracts lots of attention wherever we go.

“It was a lot of work and making the steam engine kit was by far the hardest part - but I think it was worth it, this is the only coal powered steam Land Rover in the world.”

Chuffing out clouds of white smoke and with a steam whistle to warn of its approach, power comes from the coal-fired boiler - with fuel being loaded by spade into a grate where the gear stick would normally be.

Now usually at this point I would be quoting performance and economy figures… but 0 to 60 speeds simply do not apply and, as yet, there is no data on how many miles to the ton (of coal) she will do.

Frank, who also owns a full-size historic steam wagon and drives a late model Range Rover, added: “There are downsides - a low top speed and it takes two hours for the boiler to get up steam - but Mildred is a star.”

And he should know because the 67-year-old appeared on Bear Grylls’ The Island TV series last year - where he was the oldest (and most capable) castaway.

Frank, who lives in the nearby Pennine hills, also reckons Mildred has been a good investment, valuing his quirky Land Rover at around £20,000.