Trucks that Jack built in perfect miniature

He is one of Wolverhampton's most recognisable old faces from the haulage industry but he has never made a penny out of his real talent – despite getting offers of £2,000 on several occasions.

Pensioner Jack Spittle, from Fallings Park, gave up work as a driver around three decades ago but his passion for lorries has never run out of steam. Now the 87-year-old spends his days painstakingly making model lorries out of plastic which look just like the real thing.

He has now amassed more than 120 of the model vehicles but says

he would never sell any of the precious lorries, despite interest from across the industry from people wanting to buy one of the models and give them pride of place in their office or home.

The self-confessed model nut just wants to be able to recapture the glory days of some of the Black Country's finest old firms.

His love of trucks began at the age of five when his father drove them and by the age of 10 he had begun making his first models for a hobby which would last him a lifetime.

In his early days he used cardboard to put together the models but now he uses plastic to put the vehicles together giving them the style of finish which could be found in a toy shop. He says one of the things he most enjoys really is the whole process of putting them together.

During his career Mr Spittle worked for a dozen haulage firms and also spent 10 years as a self-employed driver for his business Spittle's Transport, but away from his day job he spent his time in his shed making the vehicles.

His models include old city firms like Eddie Stobart Limited, an express haulage specialist, Stan Smith & Sons, a carrier for the furniture trade, Goodyear and Stan Robinson Limited, another haulage group.

A model he has yet to put together so far is one of the Express & Star delivery lorries – although he says that he is considering adding one of those to his collection.

Mr Spittle, who lives with 83-year old wife Beryl, says: "I actually started making models when I was 10, using bits of cardboard, I really enjoy putting them together.

"As I got older I started to buy plastic from a shop in Wolverhampton and some paints, and got serious with it.

"I have taken names of haulage firms from all over the region and made replica lorries.

"All I have ever used to create a replica model is plastic, paint and something to cut the pieces out.

"It can take me up to eight weeks to finish a model, I make sure they look like the real thing." Despite receiving lots of interest over the years he says he will not consider putting one up for sale and adds: "I must have more than 120 by now, but none of them are for sale.

"I get all kinds of offers from people who want to buy them.

"A firm called ERF, which was taken over by a German group, wanted one for £2,000, but I'd never sell them."

Mr Spittle, who has no children, used to work for Goodyear, where he started as a holiday relief driver for two weeks but he ended up staying for 10 years.

Another of his former employers was Yale of Wednesfield, but he broke away to create his own firm 39 years ago after acquiring lorries of his own.

He ran the business for 10 years, with his wife Beryl keeping the books, before retiring to spend more time working on his models.

Mrs Spittle says she is well used to her husband's hobby now and adds: "We've got models all over the house, you get used to them being around. He is now working on a model ambulance, too."

Jack is the brother of 84-year-old father-of-four Frank Spittle, who is married to wife Brenda. The couple, who are both keen rifle shooters used to run the well-known Frank Spittle Guns Shop in the city and Frank is a lifelong member of the Wolverhampton Sports Advisory Council.

Frank has also compiled a book titled Jack's Veteran Vehicles: Transports of Delight which is an account of Jack by his brother which talks about the highly regarded models.