A steam train volunteer who was overlooked for a director’s role has been arrested after allegedly threatening to kill the railway’s general manager on Facebook.

Keith Brown, a volunteer at the Kent and East Sussex Railway, has been arrested after allegedly threatening to kill the railway’s general manager Graham Baldwin.

The 50-year-old was arrested in a police raid on his home in Hill Close in Crowbrough last Thursday at just after 1.30am.

Brown is a volunteer with the railway in the forestry and conservation department and it is understood that he tried to become a director last year but was not elected.

The railway currently runs trains from Kent to Bodiam while there are also plans to restore a lost service between Bodiam and Roberstbridge.

Sussex Police spokesman said: “A man has been arrested and charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or harm to another person after a message was allegedly posted on social media on February 26.”

Brown has been released on bail to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on March 27.