But there was one youngster who knew exactly why Doctor Who's 6ft nemesis was there – as he had spent four months locked away in his house building the collossal model.

Creative Mark Robinson (10) was inspired to construct the Dalek after his new headteacher brought a much smaller model into school – that one of her former pupils had made.

Headteacher Barbara Reseigh told the pupils that their challenge was to build a bigger one – but it wasn't until Friday morning that it was revealed that Mark had come up trumps – and exterminated any possible rivals.

Mark's teacher Anne Davies may have wondered where the nearest sofa was to hide behind when she entered the classroom at Oundle and Kings Cliffe Middle School.

Mark, whose favourite Doctor Who is David Tennant, revealed how all the hard work he did – with help from his dad and grandad – paid off, and he loved seeing the reaction of all his classmates.

Mark, who lives in Cotterstock Road, Oundle, said: "They are amazed by it. I have brought it into two assemblies and everyone loves it.

"I got help from my dad and grandad, and we spent hours building it in my playroom.

"I am a big fan of Dr Who, and I am really pleased with the Dalek."
The gold and black Dalek is made out of wood, a dustbin and papier mâché. Mark said the hardest bit to do was the dome at the top of the model.

It is even possible to get inside the Dalek and make it move, so pupils may have to be on red alert when they walk the school's corridors.
Mark also revealed that his elder brother, David (12), who also goes to the school, is not a Doctor Who fan – but helped out by staying out of his way by playing on the PlayStation.

And with Peterborough proving to be a city in love with all things Doctor Who, Mark's model could prove to be a star attraction for months to come.

Last summer, a Doctor Who exhibition at Peterborough Museum broke all visitor records, and saw hundreds of people, including young Mark, queuing to step into the Time Lord's TARDIS.

School librarian Alex Heaton said the Dalek was the talk of the school, saying: "He is a very talented boy, everyone wants to have a look at it."

Factfile: Daleks

• A DALEK is a member of a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the science fiction Doctor Who.


• Their quest is to conquer the universe, without pity, compassion or remorse.


• Their most famous catchphrase is 'exterminate' with each syllable individually screeched in a frantic electronic voice.


• Externally, Daleks resemble humansized salt or pepper shakers around 6ft tall, with a single mechanical eyestalk mounted on a rotating dome, a gunstalk containing an energy weapon and a telescoping robot manipulator arm.