Trading Statement - Christmas Sales 13% Up on 1998

Hornby PLC
20 January 2000

             HORNBY PLC ('HORNBY' OR 'THE COMPANY')
                                
                        TRADING STATEMENT
                                
                                
Sales recovered during the Christmas period and in December  were
13%  ahead of 1998.  This followed disappointing sales in October
and  November,  so  that in the period October to  December  1999
sales were slightly below the previous year.

The  cumulative  effect is that sales for  the  period  April  to
December 1999 were 7% below the same period last year.

Retailers have reported good Christmas sales of our products, and
in  particular Scalextric. This has led to lower stock levels  in
the  retail supply chain which should have a positive  effect  on
sales in the first quarter of 2000.

Despite  these  encouraging signs, the  market  continues  to  be
highly  competitive and margins remain under  pressure.   Results
for the year ending 31 March 2000 will be announced in  June.