A LIFELONG Meccano enthusiast has just finished work on a massive model of a train that took three years to build.

Ken North's 6ft long scale replica of British Rail's last ever steam locomotive, the Evening Star, will be on display at the Meccano Ingenuity exhibition in Ironbridge this weekend (February 18 and 19).

The working model is operated by remote control and Mr North, of Windrush Crescent, created it after studying old pictures of the train.

After it has been on show at Iron Bridge, he hopes to display the model at an exhibition in Skegness, before taking it apart and using the pieces for his next project - a model of the Middlesborough Transportation Bridge.

"I don't want to keep it. I need all the bits to make something else - that's what Meccano's all about," he said.

Other models Mr North has made include a working replica of Tower Bridge and a model of the Eiffel Tower, which was so tall it reached into his loft.

Building models is not Mr North's only hobby. He is also a member of Worcester Gilbert & Sullivan Society.

It was during the Second World War, when he was eight, that he first became interested in Meccano.

Lack of metal meant parts were in short supply, so his father made some. Mr North then started making pieces himself, using metal from a plane that had been shot down.

Now 71, he owns 60 Meccano sets, the oldest dating from 1913, and finds a lot of parts in Malvern's charity shops.

Mr North said pieces were still made in France but Meccano became less popular after the invention of Lego.

"You don't mention Lego to a Meccano man," he said.

Mr North is a member of the South Birmingham Meccano Club and is keen for other enthusiasts to get in touch with him.

If enough people come forward, he hopes to set up a Malvern club for Meccano fans. He can be contacted on 01684 893802.