FOR the first three decades of his life Peter Coughlin had no interest in ships.

But for the last 35 years he has spent every spare minute building exquisite models which have won him fans across the world.

Peter, 67, from Darwen, is revered in the model ship-building world. His miniature masterpieces of great ships, such as Captain Cook's HMS Endeavour, have appeared on the Antiques Roadshow, represented the real thing in a feature film and even won the attention of the Australian High Commissioner for Canada.

Yet, his achievements have not come without commitment. For more than 30 years Peter has rose at 4am in the morning to build his ships and, after returning from work, has toiled into the night.

But the fruits of his labours are today on view at his first exhibition in Blackburn's Lewis Textile Museum. Visitors can not only marvel at the ships, built from scratch, but are also treated to a guided tour from the man himself.

And it is not just the models themselves on display, the stories and memories which the models have inspired are also honoured.

Peter, who lives in Lynwood Avenue with wife Marie, said: "It started all by accident. I was a terrible amateur photographer and went to photograph the engine room of a steam ship and in there were models of cargo ships.

"I didn't know anything about ships. But afterwards I said to my better half I'd like to have a go at building one. Christmas came along and under the tree a kit for the ship Danmark."

Peter got the bug, chose to build all his ships from scratch and never looked back. He said: "When I woke up the first thing I'd think about is 'how is that ship going to look?'.

Since showing his ships throughout the UK Peter has met a 94-year-old man who served on the world famous 1869 Cutty Sark, built two replica torpedo boats for crewmen who served on the real vessel in the Second World War and has been given an original piece of rudder from The Earl of Abergavenny.

"The things that have happened to me since I started this are unbelievable," he said.

Anchors Aweigh runs at the Lewis Textile Museum until May 31, Tuesday to Saturday, and Peter is in the museum every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. All proceeds go to Blackburn Sea Cadets.