CALLS have been made for business mogul Richard Branson to step in and save Poole Park’s miniature railway.

It comes as thousands of people from across the globe watched online as the train carriages were removed from the park yesterday.

Dozens of onlookers also gathered at Poole Park to watch as the trains were hauled off the track – after owner Chris Bullen was given 24 hours to remove the equipment following the end of his tenancy agreement.

Fans of the railway spotted one of the carriages carried the ‘Virgin’ logo and have since tweeted the company’s founder Richard Branson asking him to step in and save the railway.

Mr Bullen told the Echo it “would be amazing” if Mr Branson did get involved - but pointed out that it could be unlikely because Virgin were unaware they were using the logo on the train.

“I know Mr Branson has some links with Southampton so he is almost local and I think it would be great if he chose to get involved to help us save the railway,” added Mr Bullen, who has been running the railway since 2004.

“We are in a situation now where we would be willing to accept help from anyone.

“There’s a lot of anger about this from across the generations - all of whom remember travelling on the railway as a child.”

A tender process will soon begin, with Mr Bullen intending to submit a bid to continue running the railway. Whoever wins the contract will be required to replace the track so it meets current health and safety standards.

Mr Bullen, along with organisers of the Save Poole Park Railway Facebook page, has set up a crowdfunding page to raise £68,000 - the amount needed so he can tender for the railway.

He is asking people to pledge £1 for an inch of track, of which 65,000 inches will need replacing.

Poole Park Railway opened in 1949 and was built by George Vimpany. His widow Beryl, 91, was at the park yesterday to watch as the train was removed. Speaking to the Echo she said it was “very sad to see it going after all this time”.

Visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/shane-compton.