ARSONISTS have struck at a popular railway museum – causing tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage.
The attack destroyed sheds containing model railways at the Midland Railway Centre, at Swanwick Junction, Ripley.
Dave Wragg, secretary at Swanwick Junction Model Railway Club, which owned the items, said: “It has devastated us.
“One of our members was nearly in tears.
“I looked at everything on Saturday night when we packed up and thought, ‘we have a good display here’.”
Come daylight the club declared nothing was salvageable.
Two wooden sheds, which housed different gauge model layouts along with a container full of building supplies, burnt to the ground.
The fire melted a large electrical junction box causing power loss to the site.
Alan Calladine, of the Midland Railway Centre, said: “This is very disappointing for the group involved – they had put a lot of effort into the displays.”
Anyone with any information about the incident, which happened at 12.40am on Sunday, should contact police on 101.
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