Dalek king Rob is a Guinness World Record holder - VIDEO

WHEN it comes to collecting, South Yorkshire dad Rob Hull pretty much exterminates his rivals.

The 49-year-old unemployed factory worker, from Scawthorpe, has spent the past 25 years putting together what is officially acknowledged as the biggest collection of model daleks in the world.

Bosses at Guinness World Records were so impressed with the way the model Doctor Who baddies have invaded his home that they invited him to London yesterday to take part in the launch of their latest book of records.

Rob was 24 when he bought his first dalek, after seeing an advert in a newspaper.

Now the record books have him listed as the owner of over 571 models - but he thinks it is nearly 600.

He said: “I watch Doctor Who but I’m not a massive fan. I really like daleks, though.

“I remember when I was seven or eight seeing a toy dalek in a shop when I was out with my mum in Doncaster town centre, and I asked her to buy it for me.

“It was too expensive. I remember clenching my fists in a temper, saying when I was grown up I was going to buy my own. I certainly did in the end!

“The first Doctor Who I remember watching was Jon Pertwee and I thought he was the best.

“Now they have brought the new series in I think Christopher Eccleston is the best of the new ones.”

Rob’s daleks come in all shapes and sizes. They range from a small model which is just half an inch high, right up to a full size model used in the Eccleston series.

His children are split on the issue of their dad’s collection.

His oldest, Philip, aged 22, and the youngest, 13-year-old Bradley, think they are great. But middle two - Paul, aged 20, and 16-year-old Becky - say they don’t like them.

While the collection is expanding, he is now starting to face problems over where he can store them all.

At present, he has four eight-foot shelves, and a display cabinet.

But he is now having to store a lot of them out of the way behind the settee.

His wife has suggested he could put them in the loft - but that is something he is not keen on. Log onto www.thestar.co.uk to see video of Rob’s daleks.