Lionel Jeffries’ fondly remembered 1970 film The Railway Children gets a legacy sequel that revives its spirit and several of its narrative beats whilst delivering the necessary updates. Jenny Agutter returns to oversee a new group of displaced kids, with Sheridan Smith, Tom Courtenay and Game Of Thrones’ John Bradley in support.

Unfolding in 1944, it follows a group of scruffy Salford evacuees as they are sent to sunny and lovely Oakworth. Siblings Lily, Pattie and Ted (Beau Gadsdon, Eden Hamilton and Zac Cudby) are a feisty trio who are taken in by Agutter’s Bobbie and her headteacher daughter (Smith). Kenneth Aikens is a young African-American soldier, Abe, who has absconded and who the children come to the assistance of.

Director Morgan Matthews pitches this firmly at Agutter’s Call The Midwife crowd and if it feels a touch too Sunday teatime, the children are at least enjoyably streetwise and Lily is a particularly plucky heroine. But while it admirably highlights the racism within the American armed forces, it’s much less good at acknowledging Britain’s own hostile environment, sugar-coating Abe’s reception somewhat. Still, it’s pleasant and earnest enough and will satisfy fans of the original, though their grandkids may be a little bemused. 

The Railway Children Return is in cinemas from Friday 15 July.