STEAMPUNKS will take over Didcot's railway centre for a weekend of music, fashion and 'tea duelling'.

The 'Off the Rails' event, on the weekend of April 27 and 28, is being co-run with the Wonky Spanner, a Oxford's steampunk society.

Commercial manager for the centre, Ann Middleton, said it was inspired by a visit by centre staff to Kew Bridge Engines, a London-based steam museum which was hosting a steampunk event at the time.

She said: "There was lots to do but my main memory was the tea duelling competition where I’m afraid that my competitive instinct took over and I’m still thinking about how to win next time.

"I don’t want to spoil the surprise but suffice to say that tea duelling involves tea, biscuits and dunking to a specific set of rules and is far more civilised than pointing guns at each other."

A combination of science fiction and 19th century steam-powered machinery, the distinctive steampunk subculture comes with a distinctive fashion, culture and architectural style.

The weekend will feature musical performances on both a main stage and in railway carriages as well as exhibitions, talks and signings from guests such as steampunk luminary Herr Doktor and acclaimed author Raven Dane.

There will be a steampunk market trading out of the wagons.