North Norfolk councillor Paul Rice has turned his childhood passion into a model business success story.

Many might have thought that in our digitally driven world the steam would have gone out of model railways as a hobby.

However, far from hitting the buffers, Mr Rice's business, Train Terrain, has remained firmly on track for growth since he reached an agreement to share the premises of Great Eastern Models in Plumstead Road, Norwich at the end of 2013.

As well as selling models and scenery and acting as a wholesale agent for manufacturers, he has also developed a niche business building layouts.

Mr Rice, a former police officer who was elected back on to the council last week, said: 'I am currently working on a £25,000 Eastern European tram layout for a customer in Hertfordshire.

'He is a retired airline manager who has a passion for trams and travels the world to see them.'

He said the 11ft by 8ft layout had been specially designed to fit into a bedroom at his home and was being constructed with the latest infrared controls.

Mr Rice, who is being helped by contractors and volunteers on the year-long project, said: 'People might think that half the fun is building a layout but many enthusiasts have not got the time and just want something to play with and run.'

Further layout projects were already in the pipeline, including one that could potentially cost as much as £60,000.

Mr Rice, who lives in Potter Heigham and previously ran a model business at Wroxham Barns, said: 'We complement Great Eastern Models as they specialise in British models while we focus on continental and US model railways as well as scenery and garden railways.

'Sales are picking up and a vast amount of our business is by mail order all over the world.'

The business also builds smaller-scale scenes and diaramas including work for tourist attractions.