FOR SOME people, owning their own model train-set is the dream.

But now a rare chance has arisen for model train buffs to buy their own model train shop, complete with thousands of pieces of miniature - and very lifelike - stock, as a Bournemouth legend prepares to retire.

Derek Purkis has run Bournemouth Model Railway Centre in Holdenhurst Road for 46 years but has decided to retire and is now looking for someone to take on and love his business as much as he does.

"It will be difficult to hand it over but it is time," he said.

Bournemouth Echo:

He started the business in 1973, after buying and selling items for his own use "I had accumulated a lot of stuff and thought perhaps I should have a shop to try and get rid of some," he said.

His customers come from all over the UK and he posts off items all over the world to what he says are two types of person.

"They seem to either really like building a layout and then lose interest in the running of it or they get someone else to make it for them because they enjoy running the trains," he said.

Bournemouth Echo:

Mr Purkis tries to encourage all aspects of the pastime because, he says: "It helps people learn."

He's encouraged women to the largely male hobby with one customer coming to him in her sixties saying: "I was never allowed a train set when I was young because they said it was for boys only."

And recently he encouraged a young mum to build her son his own railway tunnel from a shoebox and the special bandaging railway modellers use to create landscapes.

Bournemouth Echo:

"I sold her all the bits and about 10 days later she came back in and showed me some pictures of it on her phone - her child was really proud of her and I thought 'how nice is that,' " he said.

Bournemouth Model Railways Centre is up for sale with Goadsby's. Mark Nurse, who is marketing the centre said: "It's an unusual but wonderful business and premises."