THOUSANDS of model railway enthusiasts visited an annual show in Basingstoke to admire exhibits from across the country and beyond.

The Basingstoke and North Hants Model Railway Society hosted the two-day event at Aldworth School, in Western Way, South Ham, last weekend.

On Saturday, around 2,000 people visited the show to see exhibitions by 25 traders, including a group from Basingstoke’s twin town of Euskirchen, in Germany.

Chris Cleveland, chairman of the society, said: “It’s been very busy. We have had about 2,000 people through the door. Normally for the show, there’s an average of about 3,500 over the two days.”

A heritage bus transported visitors from Basingstoke railway station to the exhibition.

Nearly 30 different railway layouts were on show at the event, including Abbey Road and Lee-on-the-Solent, and there were traders selling model railway items.

Mr Cleveland said: “There are layouts with people showing what they have made, and information about whether it’s a real place or fictitious.”

Explaining why he believes model railways are so popular, the 19-year-old, from Brighton Hill, Basingstoke, said: “I think it’s the fact you are recreating your childhood memories. I got into it when I was little, and I came to this show.”