POOLE Park will have a miniature railway up and running by the summer, council officials say.

Borough of Poole (BOP) says it is committed to ensuring its flagship park retains a mini railway - as it has for almost 70 years.

Services hit the buffers in November, after the diminutive railroad suffered a carriage derailment. Heath and safety issues have kept the engines off track since that time.

Earlier this month dozens of people watched as the engine shed was emptied - as the current owner's lease ran out.

Operator Chris Bullen says he was given just 24-hours to remove equipment following the end of his tenancy agreement. Mr Bullen, who has run the attraction since 2004, will be allowed to submit a new bid as part of the tender exercise which starts soon.

A BOP spokesman explained: "As part of the tender exercise, we will soon be inviting experienced operators to submit proposals to operate and maintain the miniature railway.

"All applications will be considered, and we aim to have a new agreement in place during summer 2017."

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 he needs to tender for the railway.

He said: "If we're successful with our tender, it will be because the community has pulled together to make it happen."

Whoever takes up the new lease will be able to change features of the railway, including the type of trains and size of track. They'll also benefit from an extended seven-year lease, says the council.

The BOP spokesman said: "Operating since 1949, the miniature railway is a much-loved feature of Poole Park enjoyed by generations of families and visitors, and we are keen to ensure it is there for many more years to come."

Because of the extended lease on offer, BOP has undertaken a legal process called a 'Disposal of Open Space' which involves the publication of official notices.

The process is needed, council officials say, because whoever takes over the railway lease will have a legal interest in the land.