THE Blackburn and East Lancashire Model Railway Society is set to stage its annual exhibition at a brand-new venue and with a change of date.

For more than 40 years from the society’s launch in 1966, the show was held at King George’s Hall in Blackburn, but in recent years the event has been staged at the Hyndburn Leisure Centre in Church.

Now the show is moving again for only the third time in its 53-year history to Darwen Vale High School just over the old borough boundary between Blackburn and Darwen.

And one of the highlights of this year’s exhibition will be the debut of a new N Gauge layout which is an accurate scale model of the 24D Lower Darwen steam loco shed.

Many older residents of the area and regular rail travellers will remember the shed which operated for more than 80 years before its closure in the mid-1960s.

It was situated on the Blackburn-Darwen line on the hill behind Ewood Park, just 500 metres from the new show venue.

It will be one of around 20 layouts in operation at the show in all scales from N Gauge to 0 Gauge including Thomas The Tank Engine for children.

There will also be modelling demonstrations and advice available plus a host of specialist traders.

The event is on Saturday, November 10, and Sunday November 11, from 10am to 5pm both days.

There will be free on-site parking and disabled access, and refreshments will be available.

Admission will be £7 for adults with accompanied children free.