Troubled model railway giant Hornby has appointed a new chairman.

John Stansfield, who had been a non-executive director of the company, which is based at Sandwich's Discovery Park, will step up to assume the non-executive chairman role.

He will replace Lyndon Davies who will step down as interim chairman to focus on his role as chief executive of the company.

The rest of the board remains the same.

Mr Stansfield is a qualified accountant who has spent 31 years with the group - including 12 as group finance director.

Mr Davies said: "Working with John since he joined the board eight months ago has been a real pleasure and I look forward to working with him in his new role as chairman. His accumulated knowledge over three decades at the company has helped us navigate some of the difficult changes we are making. I can't think of a better person to lead the board through this important period and beyond."

Famous for its model railways and locomotives, Hornby also owns the Scalextric and Airfix brands - once the must-have products of the young and young at heart.

But the company has struggled in recent years, moving from its traditional home in Margate - where it retains its visitor centre - as the popularity of such items declined.

Earlier this year it confirmed it had secured a new £18 million loan facility.