A ship builder's model of the HMS Manxman - a passenger ferry which was requisitoned by the Royal Navy in both world wars - has gone on sale at an antique showroom in Florida.

The model, built in 1904 by Vickers Limited in Barrow-in-Furness for the Midland Railway Company, is 8ft long and still in its original mahogany case.

Jonathon Daniels, of Daniels Antiques which has branches in Florida and Colorado, said one model, built to scale, was made for each ship built and was presented to the shipping company.

Mr Daniels bought the model from a UK dealer last year.

'I hope it goes to someone in the Isle of Man because they would have greater appreciation than people over here,' he said.

He said it was worth about $200,000 (£109,505) and that it was in 'first-class original condition'.

'I have never seen a better quality one like this,' he added. 'It's absolutely original.

'When you buy them you want to keep them but you wouldn't have a business otherwise.'

The HMS Manxman was launched in 1904 and had a busy life, ferrying passengers between Douglas and Heysham before being turned into an seaplane carrier in the First World War.

It was sold to the Steam Packet Company in 1920 and then served as a radar training vessel in World War Two. It was sold for scrap in 1949.

For more information go to www.danielsantiques.com