Around 700 people visited Calne’s 20th annual model rail show at the town’s leisure centre at the weekend, despite the travel difficulties that the snowfall put in their path.

Visitors to the show organised by Chippenham’s Bentley Model Railway Group had the chance to explore 30 stands displaying trains of all shapes and sizes.

This included 15 working layouts representing the railways of Britain, Germany, Switzerland, the USA and Australia from the 1920s to the present day.

The show is normally the group’s biggest event so it was full steam ahead for volunteers, who worked hard in the cold to set up and take down stalls.

Exhibition manager Geoff Endacot was in charge of the largest layout, measuring 40ft long and representing a typical Wiltshire railway in 1970.

He said last year’s show attracted around 2,000 people but, in the circumstances, the turnout had been good.

He said: “We were encouraged to see some of the locals walking though the snow and my thanks go to those who did brave the weather and did turn up to support us.

“Those who attended seemed to appreciate the fact that we did go ahead.

“Some people commented that it was nice to see things in more comfort because there was more room to move round the hall. We made a small profit, whereas if we had cancelled the show we would have had losses.”

The Bentley Model Railway Group would like to encourage people who were unable to get there last weekend to come to its next exhibition.

This will be held at the Christie Miller Sports Centre in Melksham from April 13-14.

For more information, visit www.trainwest.org.uk