You may have heard of matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs – but here is a matchstick helicopter.

Sherborne resident Michael Holloway has spent eight painstaking months building a replica of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

But rather than it taking pride of place in his home, he has decided to use it to raise money for a cancer charity as he begins his own battle with the disease. Mr Holloway, 55, who is known as "the matchstick man" for his top-quality scale models, was diagnosed with throat cancer in July.

After being virtually housebound during gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he has found even more time to devote to his hobby.

During 25 years of practising the craft, his previous triumphs include a steam locomotive and traction engine, a Rolls-Royce and a fire engine. He said: "I started making the helicopter months ago as a showpiece but I thought it would be appropriate to use it to raise money for charity.

"I'm being treated with a cure in mind, so the future is looking OK and the tumour is shrinking, but the doctors have said they don't know whether the cancer will come back elsewhere in my body.

"I'm travelling an hour-and-a-half each way every day to Poole Hospital for treatment, which really takes it out of me."

The model will be on display in The Mermaid Hotel in Yeovil, with customers invited to donate £1 to guess how many matchsticks were used.

The winner will have the option of taking it home themselves, or donating it back to the pub to be auctioned off for the charity.