Hampshire business Trainmaster runs children's train themed events and private parties.

During Covid, they have also been carrying out socially distanced deliveries of tracks, ride on trains and 'Thomas' slides so young fans can still enjoy lockdown birthday celebrations with their families.

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Mum of three Chloe Cotton was inspired by her trio of sons to set up the firm three years ago.

She told the Daily Echo: "I started Trainmaster in 2018 after the birth of my third son Chub.

My eldest Jasper was three at the time and crazy about trains, but our middle toddler Henry used to destroy his tracks and so I jokingly suggested we hire a hall for Jasper to play. I started to think this over and Trainmaster was born!

"I was actually a qualified teacher but with three back to back babies, childcare costs would have been ridiculous."

Chloe initially started Trainmaster thinking that her eldest son would enjoy it, but it was so popular that she began expanding the business nationwide in September 2019, signing up other parents of train crazy kids to run Trainmaster operations in nine other locations across the UK.

The firm has since won several awards including the Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday Award and the My VIP Card Parents Choice Award.

Larger events are expected to restart next month at a reduced capacity with dates in the diary for Ringwood on April 18, Southampton on May 8 and Winchester on May 16.

Chloe added: "I think the whole concept is unique. We fill the room with a giant hands-on train track and have a massive selection of electric and push along trains. We also have trains that the children can drive themselves and train slides which go down a coaster. We create paradise for train fans.

"Nearly all of our areas are run by parents with train crazy kids and I think that this really helps us to create a fun environment where the children can explore and enjoy themselves.

"The children love our groups and I think the parents enjoy seeing their children happy. We are also friendly and welcoming, fully inclusive and work hard to accommodate every child at our events.

"To keep an income coming in we have been doing track rental and home delivery of our equipment and it has been lovely seeing the enjoyment that has given the children."

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