MODELMAKERS from all over the country are expected to pack the annual Maidstone Model Railway Exhibition this weekend (October 20 and 21). The show, now in its 20th year, is being held at Senacre Technology College, Sutton Road, Maidstone, on both Saturday and Sunday.

Organisers of the event, the Maidstone area group of Kent & East Sussex Railway, expect to have more than 20 layouts on display in three halls. The layouts, many of which are too big to keep in a house, come in a variety of different gauges and scales.

There will be both British and non-British layouts on display at the exhibition. The non-British layouts are likely to include models based on Russian, Swedish and Italian railways.

This year's exhibitors will be travelling from as far afield as Chelmsford, Ely, Belper, Poole, Wellingborough, Peterborough and Colchester to display their layouts.

Two of the Kent-based layouts on display will be exhibited by members of the Dover-based River Model Railway Club. Another local exhibitor, Roy Sedge, from Rainham, who is an active member of the paddle steamer Medway Queen Preservation Society, will be exhibiting his N-gauge layout West Country Village.

There will also be society and trade stands at the exhibition, which runs from 10am to 5pm on both days. Entry is £3 for adults and £1.50 for children over four. Visitors who enter a tombola at the exhibition also stand a chance of winning a 10-mile footplate ride on a steam locomotive working a passenger train between Tenterden and Bodiam.

Doug Barrow, vice-chairman of the Maidstone area group, said visitors need not necessarily be avid railway enthusiasts to enjoy the exhibition. He added: "Our satisfaction, and that of our exhibitors, is seeing the many happy faces and chatting to our visitors and giving people an opportunity to see and enjoy others' hobbies and interests."