GWENT pensioner Arthur Turley first started making models out of matchsticks to entertain his grandchildren.

But the hobby stuck and now the 81-year-old, from Caldicot, has transformed some of the area's landmarks into the miniature models.

Among them is the new Severn Bridge and his local church St Mary's, which he made using matchsticks collected by grandchildren Sam and Joanne.

He takes a couple of photographs of the building or structure and then copies the design. He also makes old post boxes and telephone boxes.

It's painstaking work and retired engineer Mr Turley can spend more than a year making one model, such as the bridge, and quite a few matchsticks too - the church took between 5,000 and 6,000.

"You need a steady hand and patience," said Mr Turley, who lives with his wife Joyce on Budden Crescent.

But his hobby, which he began around 15 years ago, has also helped him through some difficult times.

After suffering heart problems he was admitted to hospital and underwent an operation to install a replacement valve in his heart.

He was discharged from the University of Wales Hospital, Heath, in Cardiff, about a month later but found he could do very little.

But Mr Turley was able to carry on with his hobby, which kept his spirits up and his mind occupied.

"Being bored and fed up I couldn't do a lot," he said. "But I could work on the models."

During that time he made the church, using toffee wrappers for the stained glass window and lollipop sticks for the roof. It took around three years in total.

And it wasn't quite finished when the local vicar, who was visiting, decided it should be displayed in the church.

"He said, 'I'm having that'. He put it under his arm and that was that," said Mr Turley.

A number of his finished models are on display in his hallway.