A tiny UK market town where locals still get about by hopping on steam trains is attracting global tourism.

Pickering in North Yorkshire has gained a reputation as a perfect rural English idyll – and it’s so easy to see why.

Walking into the high street of this quaint, picture postcard location is like stepping straight into the history books, with traditional chocolatiers, olde world butchers and bakers, and a quirky second-hand bookshop whose owner refuses to accept any payment other than cash.

Add to that the wonder of daily steam trains puffing into and out of its quaint station – where locals and tourists hop aboard to be whisked off to the famous seaside resort of Whitby or a take trip to Heartbeat land where the much-loved TV show was filmed – and its appeal is obvious.

But despite gaining the seal of approval from its thousands of visitors from across the globe including Australia, America, and Asia, a tight-knit community feel prevails with locals loving where they live just as much as they ever have.

Trevor Lewis, 68, from Northallerton, is the station foreman at Pickering. The retired vicar is a volunteer for North Yorkshire Moors Railway and says that many are drawn to the area because of the stunning steam engines, with eight daily services in and out of the town.

He said: “They love the station – and the fact that we go through to Whitby.”

Trevor reveals that as well as tourists eager for a trip on a heritage train, locals also rely on the service to get them around – including one lady who he sees “most Tuesdays”. He added: “I love it.”

Dad of three Rich Askews, 41, has lived in Pickering for 20 years and has so much pride for the area he spends his free time volunteering to clean the beck that runs through it.

Mr Askews, who works at Brouges Gallery, a high-end footwear shop in the town centre, said: “It’s nice and quiet and I have never driven as we have got everything here – schools, shops. We’re quite happy here.”

A few stores down is the gorgeously traditional Birdgate Chocolatiers – and staff member Brigid O’Reilly, 40, from Scarborough, explains what she thinks the appeal of the town is.

She said: “I think it’s quite distinctive – it’s modern [in parts] but has that traditional appeal.

“I know a lot of regulars also like that we do the traditional sweets, chocolates and cakes. A lot of people come on holiday and keep returning. It feels like a safe little town and the businesses all know each other.

“It’s also easy to get to other places like Whitby, Scarborough and York. We have plenty of international visitors who take pictures, including Americans.”

Yet despite its remote location, orders for their delicious wares come in from all over the world.

Care home and cafe worker Debbie Woolbar, 57, is now a resident who relocated to Pickering from Redcar, Teesside, several years ago with her husband, Richard, 54, who works on the oil rigs.

She said: “We absolutely love it. First of all, is the safety aspect of it. It’s also friendly.”

Debbie added: “It’s a lovely place for us to retire.”

Les Ward is in his late sixties and runs the second-hand bookstore Yorkshire Quality Books. He is proud to point out that he refuses to take any other payment than cash and rather than having a digital till, writes out all of his receipts by hand.

Does that put customers off? “Not in the slightest,” says Les. In fact the store – which he has run for over 32 years – is absolutely packed.

He said: “It is the most organised second hand book store in Yorkshire!

“It’s a nice part of the country with a lot of attractions – a steam railway, the Beck Isle Museum and a church with medieval wall paintings.

“It’s marvellous, it’s friendly and I have thousands of regular visitors that come once a year. And they can spend as long as they want in here – we encourage them to.”

Two of his customers are keen to agree and have travelled from nearby Scarborough to have a dig around his many thousands of books.

Leonard Clark, 76, a retired civil servant, said: “We have been here several times as I’m interested in railway history, transport history – and the odd thriller!”

His wife Hilary, 73, also retired, said: “I think Pickering is a nice tidy country town and it’s on our doorstep.

“I also like the assortment of shops – including charity shops and books shops – as well as market day which is on a Monday. And the railway of course.”

Just before the black and red steam train chugs into the station to a crowd of appreciative onlookers, there’s time to gauge one more opinion from pensioner Sheila Hall, 83.

Sheila is another proud local who boasts a season ticket for the steam trains that run in and out of town daily. Her son Phil is the landlord at one of the town’s most well-known pubs, The Black Swan, and she has lived in Pickering for seven years after moving there from Doncaster.

Does she also love the town? Her reponse is unequivocal.

She said: “We love it. It’s so friendly and neighbourly.” Sheila added: “It’s just a very nice place to be.”