BURGLARS have struck at a model railway near Burnham, making off with a treasured brass plaque and vandalising signs along the track.

West Huntspill Model Railway spokesman Ashley Edwards said he was saddened by the attack as the thieves had made off with the plaque as well as cherished photos taken when the railway was extended in 1987. The photos featured Bernard Escritt who donated money to the railway, run by the West Huntspill Model Engineering Society, to help fund the work, as well as OS Knock, a railway writer who opened the new extension.

The cost of the total damage to the site, which was mainly damage to railway signs and street furniture, was in the region of £600 according to Mr Edwards. A set of keys was also another of the items stolen.

He added: “We are upset by this as the photos were part of our history. This has come as a bit of a blow to us as we’re only a small attraction and we want to use our limited funds to create a new storage area. It was our portakabin that was broken into and it seems very odd that these items were taken as they would have meant more to us than anybody else.”

The break-in took place sometime between 10pm on Monday August 25 and 10am on August 27.

The railway’s helpers have vowed to carry on as normal and were able to open to the public as normal last weekend.

The railway which has been in the village since 1967 and runs a total of 1,062 feet, operates from The Memorial Playing Field off New Road in West Huntspill.

Anyone with information about the break-on should call Burnham police on 101.