AN EX-CON described as an "007 type" by notorious prisoner Charles Bronson has been invited to the unveiling of the hardman's first art exhibition.

John Lodge, at 50 the same age as Bronson, was an inmate at Long Lartin prison in Evesham, Surrey, at the same time as the fitness fanatic, infamous for taking warders hostage and staging rooftop protests and hunger strikes.

Mr Lodge, (pictured) now living in Greenland Road, Trevethin, Pontypool, is credited on the prisoner's website and appears in a video documentary about his life. He was even a guest at Bronson's wedding last year.

Now his friendship with the man regarded as one of the UK's most dangerous criminals has been recognised with an invitation to the first public showing of Bronson's artwork at a club in Rugby on June 16.

Mr Lodge, known as 'Alf' to Bronson, said: "He has been trying to find somewhere to show his paintings for a long time.

"He has got amazing talent." The pictures were created from Bronson's 8ft by 6ft solitary confinement cell in at Durham prison, where he spends 23 hours a day, and depict life behind bars and Bronson's own vivid imagination.

On the website - www. bronsonmania.com - visitors are offered the chance to view his work and win a painting a month in a competition.

His art materials are the only items he is allowed and Mr Lodge claimed that his girlfriend, Bev, even had to smuggle a pencil in at one time.

Released from jail over seven years ago and now a dog breeder, Mr Lodge, who was jailed for armed robberies at 53 post offices, says he is a reformed character. Bronson, who changed his name to that of the Holly-wood actor in 1987, labels the Pontypool man "our Welsh connection, a real 007 type" on the website.

In return, Mr Lodge said of him: "He doesn't smoke, doesn't drink and doesn't do drugs. He would never hurt a woman or child. He's not a rapist nor a paedophile. He wasn't born a psychopath, he was driven to it by the system. I think the man deserves a break."