STANDING in the corner of a small factory is a figure that has ignited fear in children and become a famous figure in a cult TV series. The Dalek is an integral part of Dr Who, but now you don t need to be a time traveller to meet one of the monsters. One

STANDING in the corner of a small factory is a figure that has ignited fear in children and become a famous figure in a cult TV series.

The Dalek is an integral part of Dr Who, but now you don't need to be a time traveller to meet one of the monsters.

One model is currently in Jack's Hill, Graveley, where it is undergoing industrial surgery to restore to pristine condition.

The model is of vintage BBC stock having appeared in an edition over 30 years ago and now normally resides in the home of its owner in Stevenage.

But for the owner of Finishline, Chris Bray, it is just another product that needs his urgent attention.

Currently getting new coats of paint in his workshops alongside Dr Who's greatest enemy are a couple of racing Porches normally seen at the Nurburgring and worth a cool £250,000 each, and a classic of the 1960s a VW camper van that had spent all its life in the USA.

"I must say the Dalek has certainly attracted a lot of attention in the workshop," said Mr Bray, from Upper Caldecote.

"People come in here and see the great cars we have being repaired and sprayed and then see the Dalek.

"It needed a lot of TLC. It is made out of wood and the filler had contracted so we have rebuilt it and it looks great. It belongs to a guy in Stevenage who has it as an ornament at home.

"It now looks as good as new and one guy who came in said it could be worth as much as £4,000."

Finishline was started in August 2003 by Mr Bray, who was brought up in Stevenage. He began his career as an apprentice with BMW and eventually became head paint technician for a busy dealership.

Mr Bray did not set out to specialise in any model of vehicle and his first job was to spray 100 milk floats. He even takes in lorries for spraying.

Recently the company won the Hertfordshire Prosperity Rising Star business award.

"It is wonderful to win the award after so much hard work by everyone here," said Mr Bray.

"We love what we do and it's more than a job to us whatever we are working on.