A GRANDFATHER has recreated part of his childhood by building his own version of a much-loved holiday camp train.

Ian Morrell, 53, from South Hetton, County Durham, has many happy memories of riding and helping maintain the Puffing Billy road train at the Butlins holiday camp in Filey, North Yorkshire.

Decades on and, after discovering the train had been scrapped, he decided to build a replica.

A year later, his dream has been realised.

The new Puffing Billy can be enjoyed at Mr Morrell’s business premises – North Eastern Mobility, in South Hetton.

Sadly, health and safety has prevented Mr Morrell allowing children to ride on the train.

However, Swin(CORR) Tempest, a friend of Mr Morrell, has turned Puffing Billy into the star of a new children’s book: Puffing Billy and the Sharks.

First edition copies, priced £5.99, are available to buy online at northeastmob.com