THE latest creation by a cult internet artist imagines what might have happened if Bolton’s favourite steeplejack was called upon to defeat the Lord of the Rings.

Fred Dibnah, pint of best bitter in hand, is depicted offering a thumbs up and cheeky wink while Frodo, Samwise and Gollum watch the destruction of Sauron’s dark tower.

It’s the latest painting by Jim’ll Paint It – a 30-year-old Bristol-based artist who creates his images using only the rudimentary software found on most home PCs.

“I created the picture entirely on the Microsoft Paint XP version and it took two days to finish,” said the artist, who likes only to be known as ‘Jim’.

“It was a pleasure and an honour painting Fred. He's always been a hero of mine.

“It’s probably in my top 10 paints so far, I'd say. Sometimes the simple ones are best.

“The main reason for painting these pictures is just for fun, but I do sell prints and T-shirts of some of the better ones.

“This one will be available as a print from my web shop.”

Social media users get in touch with Jim to submit surreal picture requests, often blending pop culture references and fictional characters with current affairs.

In a reference to the ‘clever girl’ line in Jurassic Park, another recent picture included Jeff Goldblum and Sir Richard Attenborough looking on like proud parents while a velociraptor celebrated receiving a set of excellent exam results.

Elsewhere, a recent painting showed Donald Trump dressed as A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddy Krueger, chasing a group of cats down on an alleyway with freakishly long arms.

Picture requests are often bizarrely specific, such as: “Will you paint Willem Dafoe wearing a bright purple helmet riding a little girl’s bike away from a burning city.”

Another recent creation was inspired by the request: “Please paint Neo from The Matrix in Boots agonising over whether he should buy paracetamol or ibuprofen.”

Fred Dibnah became a national celebrity after starring in a BBC documentary that followed his work as a steeplejack – often operating hundreds of feet in the air with little or no safety equipment.

During the decline of the North West cotton industry, he razed many unused chimneys at former mills throughout Bolton by lighting fires at their base.

The demolition events regularly drew large crowds from far and wide.

His starring role destroying Barad-dûr in the Jim’ll Paint It picture drew some amusing and heartfelt tributes to the late Boltonian on social media.

Nick Richards said: “I met Fred a few times when I was working in Bolton and what you saw is what you got. A true Northerner and great character. Sound as a pound; never forgotten.

Other’s blended Fred’s straight talking Lancastrian with the invented dialects of JRR Tolkien.

Chris Hogan said: "Yer Amon Sul. Yer Orthanc. Ther just don't buld 'um like this no more."

To buy a print of Fred helping rid Middle Earth of evil, visit jimll.co.uk