His work is more Roadside than Rodin but Ptolemy Elrington is making a wheelie-big name for himself in the world of sculpture.

To most people, the humble hubcap is just something that makes a car look smart.

But to Ptolemy, each wheel trim leaps out as a lizard's eye, a penguin's beak or part of a manta ray.

The Brighton artist has created dozens of animals from discarded hubcaps, which today sell for hundreds or thousands of pounds.

Pubs throughout Brighton have known about Ptolemy's work for several years, with a crocodile taking pride of place in the Hop Poles, Middle Street, and a gargoyle and manta rays at The Druids, Ditchling Road.

Others include the specially-commissioned eagle's head looming out of the wall at the Eagle, Gloucester Road.

But Ptolemy is now gaining national acclaim, with a spot on the Richard and Judy show booked next week.

His work can also be purchased via his web site.

Ptolemy, 37, said: "I have been making animals out of hubcaps for five years as a hobby but started making a business out of it a year ago.

"One of the first things that inspired me was the hubcap of a Ford Ka, which I thought looked like a shark's mouth opening.

"Some of the bigger stuff can take up to a month and the smaller ones can take four or five days.

"I get occasional commissions but I like to make things for myself and sell them afterwards. The ones for the pubs were commissioned.

"The biggest is the dragon for a car showroom, which had maybe 100 to 150 hubcaps in it.

"They are pretty much all different.

"I have made quite a lot of sharks. I was never massively into fish but once you get into something there is a whole vista of possibilities. I'm now branching out into lizard figures and insects.

"I could do it for the rest of my life. There's plenty more scope."

Ptolemy insists all the hubcaps used are merely found by the side of the road and he has a committed team who pick them up for him.

He said: "My mates pick them all up at the roadside. You would be surprised how many of them are knocking around.

"They are filthy when we find them so they need to be cleaned up. They are scratched from where they have scraped against kerbs but I like that as it gives them texture."

Sharp-eyed punters will spot Ptolemy's work throughout Brighton and Hove.

Michael Boyle, assistant manager of the Eagle public house, Gloucester Road, said: "The eagle has been here about 18 months and gets a great reaction from everyone."

Ptolemy's work can be seen and bought at hubcapcreatures.com