A Whitchurch man has built a scale model of a World War II battleship in his back garden.It took Martin Hall-Kenny a year to build the 27ft long replica, which is one 35th the size of the original HMS Hood.

He hopes to sail the ship at the Bristol Harbour Festival this year but needs help to buy an engine.

Mr Hall-Kenny, 53, is a housing manager but is between contracts and won't be able to save the £600 needed in time for the festival in August.

The model battle ship is made out of plywood, scrap wood, polystyrene, the tops of paint cans and other recycled material.

An anti-aircraft gun was made out of the bottom of a CD tower and ballpoint pen parts.

Mr Hall-Kenny built the battle ship from scratch following plans in a book called Anatomy of a Warship.

Neighbours have been very supportive of Mr Hall-Kenny's labour of love but his eight stone German Shepherd Murphy is not too happy.

The ship takes up the whole of the back garden at Mr Hall-Kenny's home in Yeomanside Close, Whitchurch.

HMS Hood was sunk by the German warship the Bismark in 1941. There were just three survivors, the last of whom died last September.

Mr Hall-Kenny - who is also a local musician whose stage name is Martin John - has always wanted his own boat.

He said: "My dad was in the Navy for 37 years and that was the start of it. I couldn't afford my own boat so I thought I would build one.

"The ultimate boy's toy is your own battleship.

"It takes a two-man crew, smoke will issue from the funnel and the cannons will look and sound as if they are firing with thunderflashes.

"A radio-controlled sea plane will be able to take off from the back and land on the water.

"It's almost ready for the water but my real problem is that I can't afford engines.

"It would work with one but would be better with two. They cost £600 each and I am appealing to anybody out there who could help to get in touch."

Mr Hall-Kenny composed the music for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's appeal in 2005 and music for the Severn Area Rescue Association in 2007.

He plans to raise money for maritime charities by sailing his HMS Hood model at public events.

Anyone who can help Mr Hall-Kenny put the final touch to battleship in time for the festival can contact him via email at martin@martinjohn.me.uk