A DOTING grandad is hoping a labour of love model he designed for his grandson years ago has a future as a museum piece.

Former professional gardener Peter Lester spent two years making a model of Rorke's Drift for his grandson after the youngster's imagination was captured by the legendary battle.

He said the 6ft by 4ft creation gave the youngster years of pleasure but was currently in need of a new home as his grandson was now a teenager.

"I have put so much into it that I want it to go to a museum," he said.

Explaining how he first embarked upon the project when his grandson was just seven years old, Mr Lester said: "My grandson and I had gone up to Brecon Museum and there was a display there which had been made by professionals which cost between £3,000 and £6,000."

"I told him 'grandad cannot afford that but I will build you one'."

Seventy-year-old Mr Lester, of Cadoxton Terrace, Neath, spent the next two years creating the model for his grandson.

"I modelled the actual building and then bought the figures and hand painted them," he said.

Mr Lester, who was once head gardener at Penscynor Wildlife Park, said he used his imagination to create some aspects of the model.

"I broke wine corks up with pliers to simulate rocks," he said.

Mr Lester, said the solid wood model, which includes around 70 plastic soldier figures, cost him around £200 to make.

"It does not equate to the actual battle as that would have cost a fortune," he said.

Mr Lester, who also worked at the Metal Box as a forklift driver, said the creation was treasured by his grandson for a number of years.

"He got a lot of enjoyment out of it," said the proud grandad.

However, he said as his grandson was now a teenager he has started to lose interest in the model.

"He played with it regularly but as he has got older his interest has waned a bit," he said.

Mr Lester, who has watched the film Zulu hundreds of times and is a member of the Anglo Zulu War Society, said he contacted the Army careers office in Swansea about a new home for the model.

He said he then got put in touch with Major Mike Hooey who thinks there may be a place in a new section of Cardiff Castle Museum for it

"I phoned him up and he seemed to be quite delighted about it," said Mr Lester.

He added that his passion for Zulu history was not about to end. He has started to paint a paper and wire model of Isandlwana, the first major encounter in the war.

"Once you get into something like that you never get fed up of it," he said.

emma.denholm@swwmedia.co.uk