THEY proudly trundled up and down the streets of Bolton in the days before the car reigned supreme.

But their unstable nature and tendency to lean around corners led to them being scrapped.

Now, 100 years after they first arrived, the town's famous trams are back -- in a model shop at least.

A limited edition set of 2,800 double decker trams have gone on sale, each one a tiny, exact replica of the famous old Dick Kerr vehicles.

It is doubtful any of them will take to the streets, though, since they are all set to become collectors' items.

Peter Edern, manager of Bolton Model Mart, on Bradshawgate, believes they could be worth a small fortune in years to come.

He said: "This is a very limited edition.

"Even if everyone in Bolton wanted one, only one per cent of them would be able to get it."

The tram, which costs £15.99, is painted in the traditional colours of red and white and has the Bolton Corporation logo on its side.

The front and back destination boards display Horwich and the trams even come complete with a replica lifeguard -- a grid at either end to scoop up animals, pedestrians or debris without causing them injury.

According to Mr Edern, who has run the Bolton shop since 1977, the tram would have started life as an open topper, later converted to a fully closed model.

The working vehicle was introduced on April 13, 1900, when the Lee Lane section of track in Horwich was opened.

Two identical full-size Bolton trams were given a run out along Blackpool's promenade in August, travelling from North Pier to Starr Gate.

Enthusiasts spend years restoring the old trams which, in some cases, are used as summer houses or hen coops.

The old trams stopped running in Bolton in 1947 and the only fully-operating ones are now found on the Fylde coast.

Mr Edern said: "It's sure to become a collectors item because it's such a well designed model.

"Anyone interested in trams or touched by nostalgia would certainly snap one up."