A model railway enthusiast has sacrificed his lounge in order to make sure a miniature version of the high speed line from London to the Channel Tunnel is finished in time for a show next month.

Stuart Conlon, 62, a former civil servant, is using his living room in Cherry Gardens, Trowbridge, to complete the model, which measures 12 feet by three feet, to display at the Trainwest Model Railway Exhibition at the Christie Miller Centre in Bowerhill, Melksham, on the weekend of May 16 and 17.

Mr Conlon is being helped with the electronics, which will operate the mini Eurostar high speed trains, by his friend Tim Hitch, from Devon, who is an electrical engineer.

“He used to be an electrical approvals officer and would be the person who approved domestic fridges and made sure they were safe, so the electrical side of this is down to him,” Mr Conlon said.

The model is made from a variety of materials and kits, brought locally and ordered from America. Most of the work on the layout has taken place at the Bentley Model Railway Group clubrooms in Chippenham, but Mr Conlon decided to take it home with him to make sure it is finished on time.

He said: “A friend gave me a train set when I was younger and that started my love.

“It gives you a real sense of achievement, but you do have to struggle to get there.”

Mr Conlon said his display will be entered into a competition run by the N Gauge Society before going on display at Trainwest.

The Trainwest show will have more than 30 model railway layouts replicating railways from the 1920s to the present day.

The show will open from 10am until 5pm on both days.