Mechanics create giant portrait of Queen from car parts to celebrate monarch's 90th birthday

The elaborate 10ft artwork has been put together using more than 800 car components by talented Kwik Fit technicians.

It includes a crown created from spark plugs, indicator lenses, brake lights and chrome trim, and a necklace fashioned from headlights, mirrors and radiator grills, weighing in at a total 115kg.

The sculpture, dubbed "The Queen of Parts," is now being taken on on a tour of the country, and stopped off at the Angel of the North while visiting the North East.

The firm decided the project was a fitting tribute to Elizabeth II, who served as a mechanic herself during World War Two with the ATS (Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service), a branch of the British Army.

A crew of four worked on the construction of the monarch, which took over 280 man hours to complete.

The team was led by artist David Parfitt, with the support of Kwik Fit technicians Dan Read and Pete Hunt.

The portrait will be visiting eight locations around the UK, including Edinburgh, Newcastle (Longbenton), Manchester, Birmingham, London, Windsor, Penzance and Brighton.

Liam Wager, Newcastle operations manager, said: “When we found out the Queen of Parts was visiting Newcastle, our technicians were thrilled to have the chance to see the portrait in person and to be part of the Queen’s birthday celebrations. It’s not every day that royalty comes to Newcastle"

He added: "Not many people know that the Queen is our nation’s most famous mechanic, and what better way to mark her 90th birthday than by taking Her Majesty to some of Britain’s most famous landmarks.”