Have you seen the West Bromwich croc?

But anyone who sees something lurking from within the watery depths at a popular beauty spot in the Black Country should fear not.

For a crocodile spotted making its way through the waters is instead the latest ingenious creation of a model boat maker.

Michael Wheal is more used to creating replicas of well known ships from history and literature which can cost hundreds of pounds to make.

But he says his crocodile, made for less than a tenner, is the one to cause the biggest stir among onlookers.

"People do take a second glance when they see it. It has been getting quite a reaction," Mr Wheal, of Ridgeway Road, Tipton, said.

The father-of-three is a member of Sandwell Model Boat Club which holds regular gatherings at the pool in Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich.

He spotted the crocodile head, which is a pond ornament, online on Amazon and had a novel thought to make it into a model boat.

He paid just £2.50 for the plastic reptile, originally designed to stop ice forming across a garden pond.

Mr Wheal says with a busy family home he hasn't got a workshop to spend time making his models.

So instead he takes up space in the kitchen or bedroom to put together the intricate creations.

He lives with his partner Sue, who he has been with for 15 years, and their children Millie, three, two-year-old Joseph and Charlotte, who is two months old.

The crocodile, measuring around 12 inches by six inches, is made from solid plastic but has a foam material inside.

Looking for the perfect sized haul for the vessel, he found his children's plastic boat used at bath time would do the job.

He cut a hole with a Dremel tool to make room inside to attach a small bracket to hold the croc in place.

The small battery three volt motor then sits inside the crocodile before it is sealed up.

It took Mr Wheal only five days to make it as he had first put his skills to the test making a duck model using similar techniques.

It is radio controlled and had a range of around 200ft which can make it halfway across the park's pool.

Larger models that the 47-year-old has made include a replica of the doomed Titanic ship.

"I think I've had some jealous looks as some people have spent hundreds of pounds on their models but my model is getting the attention and it only cost a tenner," he said.

"It can only travel slowly. Maybe two mph. But that is good as it moves slowly, like a crocodile sneaking up in the water.

"People really like it. I've had them coming up to me and asking to take a picture."

The model boat club which has almost 50 members meet on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the park and sometimes travel to other waterways.

He says while some members use model kits, he generally likes to make his own models.

"I just prefer it as you can make something your own way rather than stick to a plan. That when you get something more unique," he added.