A craftsman wants to teach people how to carve their way into our pagan past.

Stonemason Michael Dillon will be tapping into skills that have been in his Bradford family more than a century.

But the work he hopes to inspire has roots dating back hundreds of years.

Mr Dillon, 55, is launching a creative stone carving course at Keighley College, based on Gothic symbolism.

And an inspiration is his creation of one of the most familiar images from pre-Christian Britain, the Green Man. Mr Dillon, who learned stonemasonry from his father Joseph, has carved several Green Men over the 40 years he has worked in the craft.

"But this one I did for pleasure. My mother says it looks like me," he said.

"Not all Green Man heads are the same - some are very rough and are designed to be. But I wanted to make this as lifelike as possible."

Students will explore Gothic carving, much of it related to nature and rebirth, and its importance in church architecture. During the 20-week course, starting in February, they will produce their own stone carving.

"This is a beginners' course so they need have no experience," said Mr Dillon. "I'm hoping it will also encourage women to come along because they make good stonemasons."

And he should know because his daughter Claire, a teacher, is also a carver and helps in the family business of Hopwood-Dillon, which was founded in 1910 by her great-great grandfather.

"The course is also an ideal starting point for people who are interested in studying art and design but don't yet know what medium they want to work in," said Mr Dillon.

"One could start here and move on to another course working with wood, colours, cloths or more advanced stone carving techniques."

Mr Dillon started teaching at Keighley College just over a year ago in the construction department. He previously taught stonemasonry at York College of Stonemasonry and holds a degree in historical architecture.

The course - which does not come under the college's construction department and is linked to art and design - will run on Tuesdays for three hours.

Anyone interested should telephone (01535) 618600.