A spokesperson for Hornby said the firm had benefitted from families spending more time at home.

The company has seen sales surge by 33% in the six months to the end of September, according to its latest financial report.

CEO Lyndon Davies praised the results in an otherwise “difficult year”: “We have observed hitherto successful and profitable companies worldwide crumbling under the pressure [of the pandemic], with losses, closures and tumbling share values.Yet we have not only weathered this shattering storm, our sales have increased by 33% in the first half of 2020, moving Hornby back into profitability.”

Not along ago, Hornby was struggling to make profit as it encountered big problems with suppliers, however the company has seen a reversal of fortunes during the last year and reported that the company was experiencing a welcome “return to normal” in a trading update in June this year.

Lyndon Davies said the firm entered the year with “no idea” how the business would be impacted by the pandemic. All of the company’s offices have had to close at various points over the year, and the company lost several weeks of shipments due to supply chain issues. Despite this, sales climbed to £21.1m in the period from £15.9m last year, which the company puts down to the nation rediscovering slot cars, model railways and model-making. “Whenever there’s a national crisis, people turn inwards and look for things of comfort,” added Lyndon, “And we’ve tried to give people more fun.”