A MODEL railway club hit by vandals six months ago has fought against the odds to get its annual exhibition back on the rails.

More than 10 years of hard work was destroyed in one night in February when all the model railway layouts were smashed at the home of the Leigh Model Railway Society.

The Tyldesley-based group faced an uphill struggle to rebuild the layouts in time for its popular exhibition later this month, which last year attracted more than 1,400 people.

Despite the society failing to restore all the layouts to their former glory, the exhibition will be go ahead at Lowton Civic Hall this weekend.

Secretary Steve Rogers said: "It was heartbreaking. More than 10 years of hard work was destroyed in one night. It required major work to try to get all the layouts repaired for the exhibition.

"We've got 15 layouts from model railway societies across the country coming to the exhibition and there will be plenty of attractions for all the family."

The exhibition at the Civic Hall in Hesketh Meadow Lane, Lowton, runs from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, and from 10am to 5pm on Sunday.

Admission is £3 for adults, £1.50 for children and senior citizens, and a family ticket for two adults and two children is £7.50.

"The exhibition is our only source of income throughout the year, so we have had to work very hard to get everything repaired. Although we haven't managed to repair all the layouts, the exhibition is going ahead.