HAVE you ever found a beetle beautiful or an insect intriguing? If you have, this is one for you: if not, then come and explore Infestation at The Pound, Corsham.

Traditionally trained wood sculptor Alex Jones has been carving a menagerie of large creatures and critters for thirteen years and has gathered a selection of his best beasts to convince you of their unappreciated beauty and magic.

The common house spider often found loitering in baths, becomes an elegant alien like creature, carved in oak and black walnut with a diameter of eight foot. Silver gilded lime-wood fleas dance across a gallery wall like the clichéd flying ducks and a huge daddy long legs feared by people for their mythical poisonous bite, wags its maple wings on pulling a cord.

Come and be one of the first to see Alex's latest piece, a Swallowtail Butterfly with a wing span of fifteen feet, which has the potential to be the biggest wooden butterfly in the world.

These beasts are an antidote to the usual fare of wood sculpture. Squirrels nibbling nuts are replaced by seven foot long tank-like beetles carved for the Lost Gardens of Heligan in oak with lime inlay.

When Alex appeared on the BBC programme Spring Watch, Chris Packham described the work as “absolutely magnificent!”, so come and see for yourself an unexpected beauty in the animal kingdom.

Alex Jones’ Infestation exhibition at The Pound runs until May 29. Entry is free. For more information, please contact The Pound’s box office on 01249 701628 or visit www.poundarts.org.uk