A FIRST World War steam engine paraded along the seafront as part of a model exhibition.

The 37th annual Modelworld was held at the Brighton Centre, and featured hundreds of models from trains and planes to Daleks and dolls’ houses.

The theme for this year was transport and the show featured Gigantic – a First World War steam engine faithfully restored by steam engineer Neil Gough of Washington, West Sussex, with help from his son Derek.

The engine made for a bizarre but impressive sight travelling along the seafront, towing the Howitzer field gun and a van for its crew, just as it did during the Great War.

Another highlight was the display of five quarter-sized steam locomotives from the Ingfield Light Railway, near Billingshurst.

It was a rare chance to see the locomotives as the railway is privately run and located in the grounds of the Ingfield Manor School, a centre for young people with cerebral palsy.

Chris English, joint exhibition manager at Modelworld, said the show was “very successful, one of the best ever”, and estimated visitor numbers to be at least 10,000 across the weekend.