Since boyhood, hobby enthusiast Derek Reeve has enjoyed tinkering with his model railway.

But he fears that traditional pastimes such as his will eventually die out as the younger generation spends more and more time on games consoles, tablets and mobile phones.

Mr Reeve, who is a member of Sudbury Model Railway Club, is one of more than 20 collectors, hobbyists and club members keen to encourage young people to drop the digital entertainment in favour of a good old fashioned pastime.

A number of clubs have joined forces to stage the first ever Hobbies and Craft Day at St Peter’s Church in Sudbury this Sunday, designed to showcase the benefits of joining a club and learning a skill in a sociable environment.

Among those setting out their stalls are the River Gipping Model Boat Club, Bury Slot Car Club, Sudbury Association of Miniaturists and the Glemsford Tin Lorry Group.

Joining them will be the Sudbury & District Radio Amateurs, Cornard Quilters, Sudbury Family History Society and Sudbury Ephemera Archive to name but a few.

The event, which will be open on June 1 from 10.30am to 3.30pm, has the backing of the town council and will be officially opened by Lord Andrew Phillips.

Mr Reeve said: “Traditional hobbies seem to be viewed as an older persons’ thing, which is a great shame. Joining a club and talking to like-minded people can be very fulfilling.

“You can learn skills from other club members and talk face to face, which is a much more sociable thing to do than sit at a computer on your own. It’s amazing how many different clubs have signed up to be part of the event.

“Ideally we just want to show people what we do and see if we can encourage some more young people to join a club and start a new hobby.”

There will be no entrance fee but donations made on the day will be split between the East Anglian Air Ambulance, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices and Suffolk Family Carers.