A toy train won in a raffle 60 years ago has been brought back to life thanks to the expert volunteers at Farnham Repair Cafe.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Mark Nunn’s family summer holidays were usually spent in Bournemouth as his grandad lived there.

In 1962, they were enjoying their holiday as usual but couldn’t go to the beach because of the weather, so went to a church summer fete nearby in Branksome.

Mark entered a raffle and won a Hornby train set consisting of a Triang R52 Jinty class tank locomotive and a Royal Mail carriage set.

He said: “This was to be my first electric train set which I was thrilled with and over the years through birthdays and Christmas extra trains, carriages and track were added which were shared with my younger brother to play with and enjoy up to our early to mid-teens.

“The train set has survived quite a few years in various lofts. But since having a grandson, and moving to Farnham, my interest has grown again with plans to set up a permanent track in the loft where it can be used and enjoyed again by myself and my grandson, Alfie, who hopefully one day will continue the interest into his teens.”

Sadly, Mark’s train set wasn’t showing many signs of life after so many years out of action, so he took it along to Farnham Repair Café’s monthly session.

There, he checked in at the front desk and was assigned to a volunteer, Anthony Warburton, who said: “The repair of the train necessitated some rewiring and cleaning up from years of tarnishing on various contact points.

“The trickiest part was repairing damaged armature windings within the motor.

“When completed it was great to see how pleased the owner was when he saw his train running again after so many years.”

Mark said: “Thanks again to you, Anthony, and the Farnham Repair Cafe team for bringing the Jinty Class Tank locomotive back to life.”

Farnham Repair Café will return at The Spire Church in South Street on Saturday, November 12 from 10am to 1pm. Repairs are free of charge.