AN 85-year-old man from Kidderminster has spent three years building a four-foot replica of the Titanic, based on sketches he made from the 1997 film.

Lifelong Meccano enthusiast Bill Gardiner, who grew up in Kidderminster and now lives in Stone, worked on the sculpture for eight hours each week using more than 1,000 pieces.

At 18 inches high and featuring corridors, cranes, a ballroom and lifeboats, the structure is Bill's largest piece to date.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

Bill, a retired Post Office worker, said: "The Titanic has taken me three years to build - I never thought I would get it done.

"We have the film Titanic on the recorder so I'd say to my wife Ann I need to pinch the telly for a bit and I'd find the part of the ship I wanted to work on and sketch it.

"I also had the blueprints from a book I bought from Morrisons, but I came up with the plans myself."

Bill has been building Meccano models since the age of seven, after receiving a set from his dad, and was one of the first members of the Telford & Ironbridge Meccano Society.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

Over the years Bill has created hundreds of sculptures - ranging from trains to robots - and even has a functioning Meccano grandfather clock in his living room.

Bill hopes to sell his Titanic and donate the proceeds to Cancer Research UK, after being diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago.

"It has cost me around £600 to build, including parts," he said. "So I thought if someone can buy it off me for around £1,000 I can donate the money to prostate cancer research. The charity has helped me for four years."

Anyone interested in purchasing the replica can call Bill on 01562 741206.