WHEN the chance arose to give a friend’s business a leg up, a Worcester illustrator saw it as a golden opportunity.

Graham London said he wanted to surprise his mate who is opening a new ‘junk shop’ in Bristol by painting the leg of a plastic fashion mannequin in the colour gold.

“She came to lunch once carrying it over her shoulder having spotted it at the bottom of a skip,” said the 59-year-old, who lives just off Bath Road.

“She liked it for no other reason than it was a leg.

“I’m a graphic designer and an illustrator and I like to produce things that have a fun factor.”

Mr London said it took him four hours to paint the leg, which will be wall-mounted and displayed outside the shop.