Royal Parks assignment for Shropshire bronze worker Dave

At first, Dave Thomas, who runs Snooty Fox jewellers on Shrewsbury's Wyle Cop, thought he was the victim of a practical joke when he received a letter from London asking him to engrave five fountains.

But it turns out that his reputation had gone before him and he was being sought to engrave the three-foot-high fountains – which will take pride of place in the gardens.

He has already done three, two of which now stand in Kensington Park outside the Serpentine Gallery and one which is in Greenwich Park.

The two bronzes he has been working on this week, and which were made at Castle Foundry in Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, near Oswestry, will next be sent to London for fitting.

"I am working like mad at the moment," said Dave, who started his career as a jeweller and engraver 21 years ago when he left school. "London are waiting on me to get them back to down there.

"I am engraving some wording on to the fountains regarding donations which have been made to the Royal Park Foundation this year and then these will go in to the parks later this year.

"When I was first contacted to be asked to do this I did think it was someone winding me up. But when I asked about, it was that I had been recommended to them and then I knew it was for real. I was really chuffed."

Millions of people visit the eight Royal Parks for free each year. The 5,000 acres of parkland provide unparalleled opportunities for enjoyment and exploration in the heart of the capital and were used widely in both the Olympic Games and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The other parks Bushy Park, Green Park, Hyde Park, Richmond Park, Regent's Park and St James's Park.