IT is just 47 centimetres long but has taken ten years and more than 1,000 hours of work to complete.

Now a detailed replica of HMS Victory has pride of place in Ian Brennan's workshop, having been carved from a block of wood from the ship's lower gun deck.

The exact copy of Lord Nelson's famous flagship includes 104 tiny cannon, 37 wind-filled sails and all the rigging, flags, anchors and decking.

Mr Brennan, who is the official sculptor for the royal household and is also likely to be commissioned to design and make the Ted Bates memorial statue in Southampton, acquired the wood when he was commissioned to help with the restoration work on the ship. Because of its age the wood was so hard that it blunted many of Mr Brennan's tools.

Now, slightly later than expected, the sculpture has been completed in time for the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in October.

Mr Brennan said: "I started ten years ago when the bicentenary celebrations were a long way off. Now they are just around the corner.

"I had to fit it in around my paid work for the royal household and the other commissions I get."

Just the finishing touches are needed to call the work of art finished, including copies of the famous flags that spelled out the famous Nelson motto - England expects every man will do his duty.

The work is all the more poignant for Mr Brennan, who is based in Warsash, as one of his ancestors, John Brennan, was killed in battle at Trafalgar.

"It makes my connection with the ship even stronger," he said. "Another connection is that I'm the sculptor for the Household Order of the Bath, to which Nelson was appointed. So a predecessor of mine would have carved the crest for Nelson."

It is hoped that the completed sculpture will go on display on Trafalgar Day in October.