A CALCOT gardener has realised a childhood dream in putting together his very own Dalek.

Simon Turner, of Curtis Road, made the lifesize prop for an upcoming pantomime performance by the Tilehurst Amateur Dramatic Society called Panto Murder.

The 42-year-old, who helps the group with its sets and props, spent five months working on the extraterrestrial extra, which manages to get a couple of lines in the play.

Simon said: “I can’t remember how we got around to talking about Doctor Who but I said I had plans on how to make a Dalek that I sent off for when I was 10 years old —somehow I just kept hold of them since then.”

As a childhood fan, Simon wrote to the BBC to ask how Daleks were built and in reply he was sent a detailed diagram explaining how to put together one of the infamous aliens.

The TV monster was written into the script and even given its own lines, made possible by the voicebox of a toy Dalek being adapted with a speaker.

Simon said: “It will get to say ‘exterminate’ to the panto cow. It does have to be pushed. I was hoping to make one that could be radio-controlled but didn’t have the time.”

The plywood creation comes with an authentic plunger arm and, instead of a metal head, a cleverly painted and papier machéd flower pot tops off the Dalek.

Residents can see Simon’s hard work in action on tomorrow and Saturday night at Tilehurst Village Hall, tickets £7.50/£6 from the Village Florist. The only question left is what to do with the Dalek after the curtain goes down on the show.

Simon said: “My wife says it cannot come into the house.

“I would quite like to keep it but there is not great deal of room with all the other props.”