A STEAM locomotive fan has unveiled some of the miniature engines he has painstakingly built over the years.

John Dobson, 81, of Easington Village, County Durham, began his hobby as a child when he set up his Hornby train set in the loft of his family home, in Stockton.

"I have always loved everything to do with railways,'' said Mr Dobson.

As well as his passion for steam engines and railways, Mr Dobson also specialises in unusual decoupage work and one of his works, depicting the Belah Viaduct on the Darlington to Penrith line, graces the walls of the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum. His picture of the viaduct with a steam train passing over took months to complete with the fretwork of the viaduct comprising 1,200 separate pieces, all meticulously hand cut.

Mr Dobson moved to Easington Village when he married his wife, Elsie, in 1948 and he worked at Easington and Hawthorn collieries as an electrician before taking up a post as a technician at Durham University.

It was not until he retired that he had enough time to develop his art and craft hobbies.

The result is a fascinating collection including a steam engine pulling a carriage with the famous steeplejack Fred Dibnah's name on the side in memory of his hero. And taking pride of place in one of his display cabinets is Mr Dibnah's autograph.