MODEL makers at Barnard Castle School are on track to re-instating a railway.

Members of the model railway club are hard at work rebuilding the tracks and stations, which had to be dismantled to move to a new venue.

The society started in the early 1980s, building up an enviable scale model of railway stations in the Barnard Castle area, which were closed in the 1960s.

Set to a 1:72 scale, the massive model had to be dismantled and moved from technology labs to its attic home, where pupils are now restoring it to its former glory.

The track and wiring have been re-instated on large boards and this year pupils hope to complete a viaduct and all the scenery.

Teacher Richard Sellick, who runs the club with colleagues Neil Toyne and Alan Farrar, said: "It's a historic model of stations and track in the area.

"It's hard for the current generation of pupils to imagine how our towns and villages were served by the railways, so it is important we run model locomotives and rolling stock that were actually used in the area."

He said club members also got the chance to visit old railway sites and watch historical railway films.

"There are some remarkable railway artefacts in the area which show off the region's fine railway heritage," he said.

Pupil Thomas James, 12, of Leyburn, said: "I am no trainspotter but I really enjoy the chance to be creative at the model railway club."