Mike Wadey started building his first miniature steam train in his garden shed as a hobby in 1975.

He had served an apprenticeship as an engineer but went on to join the fire brigade and wanted to build the machine to keep his hand in.

Now, three decades later, Mr Wadey and his wife Rachel, are the proud owners of their own miniature steam railway and theme park, complete with a mile of track and eight miniature engines, carrying hordes of happy children around a beautifully landscaped lake.

Mr Wadey said: "After I got married I decided to build a steam locomotive to pursue my hobby of engineering and my interest just grew from there.

"When I was building the first engine, my son Luke was two or three years old. I used to take him and his friends for rides around our pocket handkerchief-sized garden. I'm sure all the neighbours thought I was mad.

"That is what inspired me to buy this place and turn it into a theme park."

Building the park was no easy task, as it had to be constructed from scratch on land which was a marshy piece of wasteland off Lottbridge Drove, in Eastbourne.

The couple built and landscaped the entire theme park on their own, fitting it in between Mr Wadey's work as a firefighter, which he continued until 1999.

He said: "It was absolutely soul-destroying hard work but we were determined to do it. My wife was digging the trenches and I was laying the bricks. It was the only way we could afford to do it."

The 25-acre park finally opened in Easter, 1992 and since then, it has gone from strength to strength, attracting about 40,000 visitors each summer and winning several awards.

As well as rides on miniature steam and diesel engines, it includes wooden play houses for children, a picnic area, tea rooms, a maze made from willow, an adventure playground, a nature walk and a shop.

It is a uniquely family affair and each family member has their own important job to keep the park running smoothly.

Mr Wadey deals with maintenance, gardening and improvements to the theme park as well as acting as guard in busy periods.

Mrs Wadey runs the tea rooms, 22-year-old Luke is chief engineer and train driver and 18-year-old Cheryl runs the gift shop and takes care of the bookkeeping.

The family first met Christopher Awdry, son of the original railway series creator Rev W Awdry, when they invited him to the park for their Thomas the Tank Engine's 50th birthday celebrations in 1995.

Mr Awdry, who took over writing the stories from his father in 1983, until 1996, when the last book was published, fell in love with the steam railway park and became a regular visitor.

He made frequent trips from his home near Peterborough for book signings and children's storytime readings.

He soon got to know the Wadeys as well as their trains and together they provided the inspiration for his new series of books, the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway series.

Mr Wadey said: "He visited us one day and asked if we would mind if he started writing a new series based entirely on our business here in Eastbourne, characterising not only the trains but my family as well.

"We were absolutely gobsmacked but we were very honoured such a famous author, who knows about hundreds, if not thousands of railways, wanted to base a new series of railway stories for children on us.

"All the stories are based on Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway and true events."

While the original railway series' stories were set in a fictitious place, the new series was to be grounded firmly in the real lives and adventures of the Wadey family and their locomotives.

Each family member is featured in the books, known affectionately as Mr Mike, Mrs Rachel, Mr Luke and Miss Cheryl.

The first story in the series, General Takes Charge, is based on the grand opening of the railway in 1992.

In it, the park's first steam engine, Royal Green Jackets, earns his nickname the General, after he shows Mr and Mrs Wadey they could not run the railway without him.

The second, Rachel And The Goose, tells how the second engine, named after Mrs Wadey, saves the day by helping to rescue an injured goose, winning the General's respect along the way.

The books are illustrated by Marc Vyvyan-Jones, who based his pictures on the real sights and characters of the theme park.

The General Takes Charge includes an amazing likeness of former mayor of Eastbourne, Maurice Skilton, who was present at the grand opening.

Rachel And The Goose includes a picture of author Christopher Awdry enjoying a ride on the General.

More stories are in the pipeline including one inspired by the events of last year's floods, when much of the park was under water, including the railway tracks.

One tale will be based on a female customer who lost her ring during a train ride and another will tell the story of a hedgehog which fell into the turntable and had to be rescued.

Mr Wadey said: "We have six steam engines and two diesel and they have arguments, just like in the books.

"They are all different to work with. Sometimes they perform really well and other times they seem very sluggish getting up steam and the fire doesn't burn as bright as it should.

"Steam engines definitely have their moments.

"Once the fire is alight and they are simmering away making steam they come alive. Sometimes they can be real pigs and other times they are a delight to drive."

"We keep in touch with the author and tell him about any incidents which happen and he turns them into stories."

Proud though they are to have been chosen as subjects for the books, the Wadeys are not letting fame go to their heads. Mr Wadey said: "I have to say it is the funniest thing which has ever happened to us."