STAR Wars fan Alex Dodson's out of this world way of 'upcycling' old gas bottles has won him a top international award.

The technology teacher transforms boring bottles and cylinders into Darth Vader and R2D2 themed wood burning stoves and patio heaters.

The end results are so stunning that fans from across Europe and even in the USA are now ordering them.

Amazingly he had never done any welding before starting on his first conversion- with a £30 welding kit he bought from a supermarket.

Now the 32-year-old from Hoyland, has just won the top prize in an international metal working competition- and $1,300 worth of welding and safety gear.

"I wasn't sure how well they would turn out when I first started, but honestly I was quite pleased and the reaction from everyone who has seen them, especially when they are lit and the eyes are glowing, has been amazing," he said.

He sells his small Vader stoves/heaters for £200 and the large version (created from a massive 46 kilogram gas bottle) for £250.