VISITORS to a guesthouse in Gwent may think they are in danger of being exterminated - thanks to an unusual addition to the building.

Because the West Usk Lighthouse near Newport has its very own Dalek, signed by cult 1970s Doctor Who actor Jon Pertwee.

Thankfully, it's an old model and can't climb the stairs like the Daleks in the new version of the science fiction classic starring Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and Billie Piper as his assistant Rose.

Lighthouse owner Frank Sheahan, 53, said: "It can't get upstairs so it stays at the bottom as a centre-piece for our guests who love having their picture taken with it."

The evil adversary of the Doctor was a gift from a guest more than 10 years ago and has been at the Lighthouse ever since.

Mr Sheahan said: "The guest worked for an advertising company and had it from the BBC production team.

"He said it was in his garage at home gathering dust and his child was a little scared of it, so we took it off his hands."

The Dalek then became the centre-piece of the campaign against the proposed M4 relief road, in which Mr Sheahan and wife Danielle, 43, were involved.

The Dalek, which has been authenticated by the BBC, travelled with the campaigners by train from Newport to Cardiff and was part of the demonstration against the road in the 1990s on the steps of city hall. It still has working lights and a sound system in the back which uses a car battery.

People have travelled from America, Japan, Canada, Russia and Belgium, all eager to take a look - including astrologer Russell Grant, and members of the band EMF who had a number one hit, Unbelievable.

"I remember watching Angus Deayton and Paul Merton on TV and they were talking about where the remaining Daleks were and he said 'There is one in a Welsh lighthouse'," he said.

Mrs Sheahan also owns the Lighthouse which the pair converted into a bed and breakfast in 15 years ago.

A spokeswoman from London auctioneers, Sotheby's, said the Dalek could be worth around £1,000 to £1,500.

The new Dr Who series starts on Saturday, on BBC One at 7pm.