A club that runs miniature railways during the summer months is appealing to the public to help raise funds for track repairs.

Chingford and District Model Engineering Club is run by volunteers and has two passenger carrying miniature railways, one at ground level and one on a raised track.

It has run since the 1940s and even counted Walt Disney as an honorary member after he visited the club while in the UK on a business trip. However, the facilities are now in urgent need of repair.

The club has launched a crowd funding appeal to raise money from a large number of people who contribute a small amount each.

Club chairman Roy Berg said: “The Chingford and District Model Engineering Club is looking for your help. We have run miniature railway in Ridgeway Park Chingford since 1945 and we have the expanded over the years.

"We need to upgrade our ground level carriages as the equipment we have was purchased second hand in 1995 when the ground level railway first opened is now getting old and we are constantly having repair it.

“The club membership has agreed that we must replace them, and are planning in having a total of 12 new carriages with a cost £2500 each. This would allow us to run longer trains and reduces the waiting times for a ride.

“The only income the railway receives is from the fares that we received from the members of public when they ride on the railway every Sunday from April to September, and we do not wish to increase the cost of rides to cover this expense.

“We also have other expenses, in keeping the railway running. The club is planning to fund this project out of our fund but this will take us the next six to eight years to complete. In a hope to speed up the process we are setting up crowd funding.”

If you would like to help with the club's appeal, visit: Justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Chingfordmodelrailway.