A GREENOCK grandfather has shown model behaviour by painstakingly building a magnificent miniature home from scratch.

William Campbell of Ayr Lane spent a year meticulously making his 3ft 'dream house' from scratch.

The 80-year-old's attention to detail is astonishing as the four level, fully-furnished wooden property features fingerprint sized picture frames with old photographs of his family, including his late wife Maureen who died four ago.

Other intricate features include a loft with tiny storage items including a Christmas tree and rolled up carpet, a living room with a miniature gramophone and drinks table plus a dining room, bathroom, bedroom and a utility room with a tiny ironing board and iron.

There is also a miniature version of a watercolour painting William produced of Cloch Lighthouse and the curtains are made out of paper.

William, who has three grown-up daughters, Alison, 52, Gillian, 50, and Elaine, 45, plus three granddaughters and a grandson, says his passion for modelling has been lifelong.

He said: "This took me a year to build and I'm really chuffed with it.

"At my age you could just sit in front of the TV all day, which I don't want to do."

William, who worked in a financial services office prior to retiring, says one of his most prized models is a tiny house he made when he was a teenager which opens up to the tune of 'Auld Lang Syne'.

He said: "I have always been a modeller, I have even got a model which is 65 years old.

"My mother died when I was 14 and I went to live with my brother and his wife in England.

"I stayed with them and when I was about 15, I made a model and forgot all about it.

"I gave it to my brother's wife.

"She recently died and her daughter said she still had it.

"She sent it to me and I had a lump in my throat when I saw it."

William, who is also a keen amateur photographer, takes great pride and joy in an incredible model boat he built over four years which he named 'Fairlight'.

He said: "The Spinnaker Hotel used to be called the Fairlight and that was where me and my wife got engaged.

"She was alive when I made that and she couldn't get over the fact that I made a tiny little lifeboat for the boat."

Resourceful William used materials such as the metal from umbrellas and also came up with his own invention for the steering gear so that the model can sail on water.

The boat also features port and starboard lights.

He added: "If I make a model aeroplane, I'll make one that can fly.

"If I make a boat, I'll make one that can sail."

William is unsure where his talent for model making lies, but added: "The only things I excelled in at school were history and PE.

"But I'm a Capricorn, who are known for being artistic."