THE Blackburn and East Lancashire Model Railway Society is staging its 53rd annual exhibition at Darwen Vale High School this weekend.

One of the highlights of the show for many visitors will be the first public appearance of a new N Gauge layout which is an accurate scale model of Lower Darwen steam loco shed as it looked in the last years before its closure in the mid-1960s.

Many older residents of the area and regular rail travellers will remember the shed which operated for more than 80 years at Higher Croft on the Blackburn-Darwen line.

The site is just 500 metres (as the crow flies) from the venue for the show.

It will be one of around a dozen layouts in operation in all scales from N Gauge to 0 Gauge including Thomas The Tank Engine for children. There will also be modelling demonstrations and advice available plus a host of specialist traders.

The event is on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November from 10am-5pm both days. There will be free on-site parking and disabled access, and refreshments will be available.

Admission will be £7 for adults with accompanied children free.