A MODEL helicopter club is calling on local farmers and landowners to offer its group a new home.

Weymouth Model Helicopter Club left their field of 14 years after public complaints over the noise created by the petrol-fuelled helicopters.

West Dorset District Council advised the club they should only use battery-run models, but this has caused problems because the majority of members use petrol-fuelled helicopters.

World-class model helicopter flyer, 14-year-old Jack Kessock-Philip, is one of many members who has lost out since being unable to practice in the Bagwell field adjacent to the farm camp site.

Jack, who goes to Wey Valley School, is the third best model helicopter flyer in the country after the recent 3D championships in Gloucestershire.

He began flying last year and became interested in the sport because his parents own Kessock Models in the town centre that sells model helicopters and planes.

Jack said he is worried that he has not been getting enough practice since the field became off-limits earlier this year.

He said: “Ideally, I would like to practice a couple of times a week, but I have only been practising once a month because we have had to travel up to an hour to get to another field.

“I am pretty annoyed because I really want to progress, but this is a major setback.”

Dad Mark, 38, who runs the shop with Jack’s mum Zena, 36, agreed that Jack is doing well but could be doing a lot better if he had a field to practice in.

He added: “With all the land around here you would have thought there would be somewhere.

“We are calling on any farm or landowner who has somewhere we could practice to get in touch.

“Since the field has not been in use, the business of model helicopter flying is dying and that is affecting my business.

“As it stands today, I don’t think the club will be here next year.”

If you have a piece of flat land of around five acres and would consider renting the land to the club for a small price then please contact Mark or Zena on 01305 779394.