IS it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a dragon called Tamakander sitting on a tree top in Malvern.

Although this dragon with the rather wooden expression actually IS the tree. He's in the garden of The Dell House B&B in Green Lane, Malvern Wells and is the work of Hereford sculptor Steve Elsby.

Kevin and Elizabeth Rolph, who moved to Malvern in 2014 to take over the Dell House, commissioned Mr Elsby to carve a dragon at the top of a very tall tree stump in their garden.

Mr Rolph explained: "After Steve had finished his work of art, we held a ceremony devised by celebrant Maggie Forrest to give the dragon a name. Naming inanimate objects, like ships, is a tradition that goes back centuries. Maggie’s usual role is to write and conduct funerals, weddings and baby naming ceremonies, but she was delighted to take up our unusual commission. Around 20 people attended, including the carver, neighbours, and many involved in local tourism."

The ceremony also had a serious note, which included the Rolphs making a public declaration of their commitment to continue reviving the Dell House and its gardens and sharing them with guests and visitors to Malvern. The venue recently won second place in the best B&B in Worcestershire and third place for best self-catering in the VisitWorcestershire awards.

Mr Rolph added: "The dragon was named Tamakander, Watcher of the Lower Garden and Scourge of the Binding Weed, as we had to shift several tons of bramble and bindweed from this area before Steve could start."