THERE won't be many people getting a hand-made rocking zebra in their Christmas stocking this year!

Lancaster man Ron Wood turned his hand to carpentry just over two years ago and discovered a skill for making traditional rocking horses.

His first horse proved so popular he was asked to make another, then another, and has so far made eight.

But this year Ron fancied making something a bit different and struck upon the idea of a making a zebra.

"I've only ever heard of one other being made and I looked at a lot of books to make sure I got it right," said Ron. "I made the mane from real horse tails and used a heat gun to perm it upwards. Everyone I've shown it to thinks its marvellous."

Ron was an engineer by trade and came to carpentry later in life, joining the Rocking Horse Guild.

"I plan to make three more," added Ron, "then I think it will be time to move on and make something else."