PENDLE model railway enthusiasts have recreated Nelson in the 1960s for their 40th anniversary exhibition.

Train buffs from Nelson's twin town of Creil in France will be bringing along a model of French mainline railways while another enthusiast has put together a scene of the preparations for Operation Overlord in Southampton for the D Day landings.

It is a far cry from when Pendle Forest Model Railway Society's honorary secretary David Carter put an advert in a local paper in 1964 asking if anyone wanted to start a club.

He said: "Everybody who has been a member has enjoyed themselves and contributed to the life of the society.

"It's like a family in a way and I've made a lot of friends from Germany, France and other railway clubs in the country.

"People learn a lot of skills like woodworking to build the framework, electrical skills, model-making skills and painting."

The society will fill Nelson's Silverman Hall with models for the display on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Youngsters can try their hand at driving a train and there will be traders selling everything from train sets to spare parts.

Pendle Forest's team of 15 members have spent two years working on the Nelson model including research.

David said: "We had to get plans from British Railways and contact the newspaper libraries for pictures.

"In the 1960s steam was still in and there were quite a few cotton mills. We've got almost all the buildings in the model that were in Nelson before the redevelopment."

He added: "It's recreating a little bit of history."

The exhibition will open 6pm to 10pm on Friday, 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday. Entry is £2.50 (£1.50 for children).