A MODEL railway club which was made homeless has secured a new base thanks to an appeal for help in The Northern Echo.

Shildon Model Railway Club, which was set up in 1982, has re-located to The Surtees Arms, on Chilton Lane, Ferryhill.

The club has used several venues but the most recent, the Lightfoot Institute, in Bishop Auckland, where it was a member with the Kingsway Club, folded recently.

The club has stored several large layouts in Durham County Council-owned garages in Newton Aycliffe and at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon.

Dave Walker, club secretary, said: “Landlord, Alan Hogg, saw we needed a new home in The Northern Echo and he said we could use his premises.

“We’re upstairs in an old function room and we’re quite happy at the moment.”

Amongst the venues which the club has used is the Southerne Social Club, in Newton Aycliffe, and the Coach House and Timothy Hackworth, both in Shildon.

Mr Hogg said: “I saw a piece in the Echo saying that they needed a new home.

“We have a function room which is barely used and I’d rather have them in there then have it standing empty.

“We’re building up a really strong relationship with them.”

The railway group has displays at the pub’s Easter Beer Festival between 4pm and 6pm on Good Friday and noon to 4pm on Saturday, April 19.

Details on the club can be obtained online at shildonmrec.com