RAILWAY modellers in East Lancashire would like to trace a mystery man who turned up at their headquarters with a bin bag full of model railway items – and dumped them on the doorstep with barely a word.

Blackburn and East Lancs Model Railway Society were holding a mini-exhibition and open weekend at their base in the Oswaldtwistle Mills Business Centre when they received the surprise donation.

The society’s secretary, Howard Foy, of Windsor Road, Great Harwood, said: “On Sunday afternoon one of our members was called to the front door at the car park to find a big black bag which the man said was a donation to the club. But before my colleague could get his name or contact details, he jumped in his car and drove off.

“When we opened the bag, we found four large cardboard boxes packed full of old 00 Gauge wagons, carriages and other modelling items.

“All told, they are probably worth a bit of money and we would just like to thank the mystery man for his generous donation.

“Like many organisations, the society has been struggling a bit for the past two years due to all the Covid lockdowns and any of the models we cannot make use of will probably be sold to raise some much-needed funds to help us going forward into 2022.

“If our surprise benefactor would like to get in touch, I can be contacted on 01254-603965.”