Impressive and intricate model boats were showcased to mark a milestone anniversary for Carlisle Model Boat Club.

Members celebrated their 25th birthday on Saturday by hosting an exhibition of both static and sailing model boats.

There were about 70 in total with battleships, super yachts, patrol boats and fishing boats among them.

Maurice Suddaby (CORR) , chair and one of the founding members, said: "Any anniversary is a milestone. We said when we've got to 25 years we'd have a day when everybody comes, and has a good time and that's what it was all about.

"We were very blessed with the weather. We'd been keeping an eye on the forecast."

Maurice explained that the ageing club has changed somewhat over the years.

"We used to go away to shows and competitions. Now we're all getting a bit older and we don't want to travel," he said.

"It's an enjoyment of coming here for the day, just sailing and enjoying the models."

Maurice, 84, who has built models since he was a boy, brought along two of his boats: a broads cruiser he built in 1959; and First Light, a Clyde puffer he built when he retired in 1991.

Brent Harrison, 68, a retired computer systems engineer from Thursby, near Carlisle, displayed his model of a 220ft-long super yacht he built from scratch using photos from the internet.

It took him seven months to create the impressive model which is made from tiny wooden slats and glass fibre.

He said: "I thought I want to make something completely different and I wanted something modern.

"I was trawling through the internet for super yachts and I found it. I thought 'I'm going to have a go at that'.

"I spent a day-and-a-half making the steering wheels and they were the wrong size, so I threw them away and made some more."

His second boat, which is still under construction, was modelled on a Greek Taxiarchis owned by a friend who lives in Telendos (CORR) .

Brothers John and Tony Dixon of Blackwell Road, Carlisle, enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere on Saturday.

Tony, 84, the club's longest standing member, said: "Sitting down and relaxing and sailing your boats on the lake, it calms you down."

The club also hoped to attract new members by showing people what it was all about.

Tony remembers seeing model boats sailing on Windermere. He added: "There was a little boat rowing across the pond and I said, 'now that's going to be my hobby,' and I've enjoyed every minute of it since."

The club, which formed as Carlisle Marine Modelling Association in 1991, meets every second Monday at 7pm at the Education Centre at Talkin Tarn.

They sail on Wednesday afternoons between 1.30pm and 4.30pm.