The '˜Playstation generation' is given new meaning

They have spent one Saturday a month helping to build a new layout for the town’s model railway club rather than playing on the computer games console.

The results of their work since last spring will be on show for the first time at the club’s latest annual exhibition this weekend.

The layout created by the members of the junior section of the club – such as Aaron Wallace, 15 – with its adult members is called Troutbeck Bridge.

Adrian Taylor, the junior section’s leader, said: “Some people claim traditional hobbies have lost their appeal.

“But this group of lads have shown trains and model railways are as popular as ever. As a club, we were eager to inspire a new generation of modellers as well as passing on the skills we have built up over many years.”

Work on the layout began last spring when the club staged its first 12-week course to show youngsters how they could start a project.

A total of 16 boys signed up to take the club to a total membership of almost 50.

The enthusiasm for the annual show is equally great.

The event will take place from 10am-4.30pm this Saturday and Sunday at Felpham Community College.

It will fill two exhibition halls with some 14 layouts in a range of scales supported by several traders.

The club hopes its popularity will at least equal the near-2,000 visitors who went along to last year’s exhibition.