MEN returned to childhood joys at the weekend when a model hobbies and craft fair was held for the first time at a Teesside school.

The Friends of Manor College, in Hartlepool, organised the event to help raise funds for the school, and the two-day fair was such a success, it is to become an annual event.

Darlington Model Railway and Teesside Radio Control Cars had displays on show, along with Hornby Scalextric, which had a demonstration of digital racing cars.

There were 33 stalls and exhibitions, including a variety of different model collections and arts and crafts.

Chairman of the friends group, Malcolm Priestman, said about 800 people attended the show over Saturday and Sunday, raising £1,700 towards the cost of folding, tiered seats for the school drama studio.

"It was a big success and we are now going to make it an annual event," he said.

"There are a lot of people already booked to have stands next year. There was a variety of people who came out, from enthusiasts for model hobbies and crafts, as well as a lot of families.

"A lot of the dads and their sons went into the sections with the model displays and the mothers and daughters went to the crafts section. It worked very well."