Two keen modelling enthusiasts have used their hobby to help Weston Hospicecare – and have donated more than £5,000 to the charity.

Darren Berry and Steve Gibbons work for Western Power Distribution and discovered a shared love of modelling when they first met at a company training event.

The duo came up with an idea to raise money for a number of charities by asking company bosses for support to create some scale models of the firm’s vehicle fleet.

The firm agreed to fund the purchase of the vehicles and Darren and Steve set to work to turn the models into perfect replicas of the Western Power Distribution vehicles.

Two thousand of each type of model was commissioned and these limited editions have been snapped up far and wide – by the company’s staff nad customers, as well as by collectors.

The scheme has helped to raise £18,000 for charities – and £5,500 has been donated to Weston Hospicecare.

Darren said: “Steve and I both do modelling as a hobby; it was something we found as a common interest when we first met.

“We came up with the idea and went to the manufacturer and initially thought we would order 20, only to be told that the minimum order was 2,000.

“Thankfully, the company decided to fund the purchase, and we then got to work.

“We’ve had phone calls and orders from all over the company, and from collectors too, including one from Jersey.

“It’s terrific to visit Weston Hospicecare and see how much difference can make, and I’m sure everyone who supported this project will be thrilled to know their money is supporting such a valuable cause.”

The friends nominated Weston Hospicecare as one of the charities to benefit as a former colleague, Phil Thorne – now part of the hospice’s Burnham Friends group – had been a long-term supporter of the charity.

The hospice’s corporate fundraising manager Simon Angear said: “We’re enormously grateful to Darren and Steve for putting their talents to work in support of the hospice, and to Western Power Distribution for helping them to do so.

“Their donation is very generous, and can make a real difference to the care we are able to deliver to our patients.”