Dave Read builds the Guardian of the South in his front garden in Totton

But then Dave Read wasn’t interested in a cheeky gnome, ornate bird bath or stone Victorian statue.

Instead the Hampshire welder built an impressive 7ft mild steel rusted sculpture of a man he has nicknamed the ‘Guardian of the South’.

And after the 45-year-old spent 60 hours making the 300kg sculpture, it now takes pride of place in his front garden at his family home in Stirling Crescent, Totton.

It was seeing the Angel of the North structure in Gateshead in 1998 which inspired Dave.

Ever since he has wanted the chance to do something similar.

Although Dave has been a welder for more than 30 years it is the first time he has done something artistic with his skills – and despite the size of his creation it only cost him £300 to build.

He was granted permission at his workplace at Arkay Engineering in Romsey to use his spare time to build it in the workshop.

And he said since installing it in his front garden there has been nothing but positive feedback.

He said: “My mates think it is great and are surprised by the scale of it.

“Lots of people down my road have stopped and asked me why I did it.”

While Dave likes calling his piece of artwork ‘Guardian of the South’ his 12-year-old daughter Katie’s name for it is a little more apt. She calls it ‘Iron Man’.

Living opposite, one neighbour who did not want to be named, said: “I think Dave has worked really hard to make it. It is a little like the Angel of the North and it is certainly unusual, I am getting used to it.”

Dave’s wife Michelle, 47, said that she was originally a bit apprehensive about having a sculpture in the garden.

She said: “I have grown to like it. I was worried about it at first but he has worked really hard on it and we have had lots of positive comments from people that have seen it.”

How they compare:

Angel of the North
• Location: Near the A1 in Gateshead
• Height: 66 feet.
• Material used: Steel/copper
• Designer: Antony Gormley
• Cost: £1,000,000
• Visitors: 150,000 visitors a year

Guardian of the South
• Location: Stirling crescent, Totton
• Height: 7 feet
• Material used: mild steel
• Designer: Dave Read
• Cost: £300
• Visitors: Figures cannot be confirmed but Dave believes that more than 40 people have stopped by to have a look.