Neil is a Lego nut

Computer consultant Neil Martin is a self-confessed AFOL – Adult Fan Of Lego – after becoming obsessed by the tiny plastic building pieces when his daughter was small.

Now the proud owner of more than 50,000 Lego bits, he spends much of his spare time creating ships, army trucks, light aircraft, towers and soldiers.

The 43-year-old from Wolverhampton specialises in what Lego fans call MOCs – My Own Creations – which means they are not from a set but are of the hobbyist’s own design.

And he goes to extraordinary lengths to get the parts he wants.

Among his collection are 24 two-inch high soldiers, originally from an earlier Lego set which is no longer available.

But he sourced the pieces individually from all over the world and reconstructed them, getting the legs from the USA, the torso and heads from Hungary, the red epaulettes from Hong Kong and the black hats, backpacks and muskets from Wales.

He says: “It’s a bit like rebuilding a vase that has been broken into pieces which have been scattered far and wide.”

He got into Lego about four years ago when his daughter Yuan-Xin(CORR) was just four.

She still likes to play with Lego but not as much as her dad.

Neil spent an entire year building a medieval tower, made up of 2,030 bricks, with a rear wall that hinges, allowing people to see the stairs and columns inside.

But he is probably proudest of a white office building with a revolving door.

He said: “Lego have never released a set with a proper revolving door so I’m very pleased to have created something the company has not to date.”