THIS huge model railway needs a new home with a Dorset charity or school.

Built by David Hough, the extraordinary track measures 9 feet by 12 feet, and is currently in a purpose-build shed at the bottom of the author’s garden.

But with a move to a new home planned, sadly there won’t be the room for the model, so David is looking for a worthy charity with enough space for it.

David, who currently lives in Ferndown, built the railway to help occupy him when he retired as an instructor at the College of Air Traffic Control more than 10 years ago.

It depicts a narrow gauge railway as it might have looked had it been built on the Cornish south coast.

He said: “I hope it might be used for the benefit of a local worthy cause.

“It has given me pleasure in building it and I would like to see it give pleasure to people less lucky than myself.”

The railway was originally donated to Portfield School for children who are on the autistic spectrum.

However, the facility was unable to raise the money to buy a suitable hut for it.

David said: “I would particularly welcome a response from a charity organisation helping disabled people.

“My wife worked with disabled children and recently retired as chairperson of the Dorset Disabled Canoe Unit.”

His love of model railways helped to fill some empty hours when, early on in his career, he worked as aerodrome manager on a remote Hebridean island.

“In the winter we only had four flights a week, so I occupied myself by building a layout in the control tower,” he said.

“Visiting pilots would pop up to see it running.”

David has published more than 20 novels in the UK and North America, including thriller Prestwick, which relies upon his experience as an area controller at the Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre.

It tells the story of two aircraft which collide over the North Atlantic Ocean.