The lizard rock

Mr Proctor, who was born in the red rose county but came to Sheffield more than a decade ago, spent more than 200 days on his creation, despite thinking it would take around 50.

He carved the rocks outside in one of the coldest winters for years and described how at one point he thought he had bitten off more than he could chew with the project.

But he has now unveiled the work at Barnsley's Locke Park, and said it had been worth working through ice and snow at the start of this year to see the finished product.

"It is the biggest sculpture I have ever done," said Mr Proctor, who trained at art school in Sheffield and used a yard at the city's Yorkshire Artspace to create the stone lizard.

"I went through absolutely loads of chisels when I was making it because the stone is so tough, and my hands and arms had to toughen up to stand the constant work that it took to carve all 12 pieces."

Picture: Chris Lawton