SPECIAL effects students are getting an insight into the weird and wonderful creatures of Doctor Who from the man who helped to create them.

University of Bolton students are working with leading industry prosthetics artist and creature designer Dave Bonneywell.

Dave, whose TV and film credits include 28 Weeks Later, Hellboy II and Doctor Who, is teaching an intense course on advanced physical effects.

He is employed by Neill Gorton’s Millennium FX studio, One of Europe’s biggest and busiest effects companies.

Award winning make-up artist Neill — best known for creating everything from the Sontarans to the Cybermen in the hit television series — is visiting professor at the University of Bolton.

During his classes, students will be creating prosthetic character make-ups from start to finish.

Working from a concept design and a life-cast, students will be sculpting, mould-making, casting in silicone, colouring and applying to a model — all skills that students will use during their professional careers.

Dave will also be delivering a lecture to students on life in the industry, including advice on CVs, portfolios, set etiquette and how to work your way up the industry ladder.

He said: "The philosophy at Millenium FX is to teach students the most up to date techniques from professionals so that our industry will continue to improve and expand.

"It has been great working at the university, the students work very hard and have a lot of nice ideas.

"We have a few days of sculpting with students learning about the processes we use all the time in the industry.

"Some students have never touched make-up before and are doing very well.

Over the summer the department spent £50,000 on upgrading its studio space.

Programme leader for special effects for film and TV, Richard McEvoy-Crompton said: "We’re really proud of our little course, we’ve had a full studio refurb over the summer and added a nice modern classroom too.

"Working with people like Dave is what the SVFX team is all about, he’s an amazing professional and a brilliant teacher.

"It really is so important that we give our students the chance to work with industry pros and a module like this is designed to not only expose them to that, but to also show that how intense and exciting the FX industry is. It’s going to be a tough two weeks for the students — really tough, but really brilliant fun."