IT has been three years in the making but a 78-year-old Woolston man has completed his project of building a model of Warrington Transporter Bridge out of Meccano.

Norman Williams, like many others bidding to save the real life site, travelled past the grade two listed construction each week and took notice of what could be if it was to be brought back to life.

But instead of waiting for action to be taken, Norman decided to take matters into his own hands and set building work for the man-made model into motion in his garage.

"I was on the bus a lot and when driving past it I just thought I could make one of those," he said.

"I looked at pictures of it as well and then decided to start planning how I would go about it before starting."

Constructed of more than £4,000 worth of Meccano, the model stands at 27 inches high, 74 inches in length and 18.5 inches wide.

There were also around 1400 bolts and nuts required to complete the masterpiece but Norman admits every penny and minute spent have been worth it.

But there is one person in particular who he believes would have been extremely proud of his efforts.

"It has really been great and I have just enjoyed making it over the last three years," he said.

"My next door neighbour has been wondering how I have made it and was quite impressed.

"But my wife, Barbara, who passed away, would have been proud of it - she used to always come into the garage to look how I was getting on."

After completing such a memorable, yet at times strenuous assignment, many would be glad to take a well-earned break but Norman is already eyeing his next job.

He added: "I love building things and will be starting a construction of a block setting crane in the future."