A limestone lookalike, invented by a Keighley sculptor, is on show to the public for the first time at a top gardening event.

The moulded rock - an exact replica of the protected limestone in the Yorkshire Dales - is to feature in a specially designed garden at Harrogate Spring Flower Show today tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Bill Jordan, 58, of Dale View Grove, Long Lee, Keighley, has perfected his "secret" method of replicating the stone and it will be used in the alpine garden, put together by top Harrogate-based garden designer Peter Orme. "It's an exciting time because the public has never seen the rock used like this in a specially designed garden before.

"It's getting its premiere in Yorkshire and later in the year we will show it at Birmingham," said Mr Jordan, who is also optimistic of showing at the Chelsea Flower Show.

The limestone is produced in special moulds and can be fitted together like a jigsaw to form any configuration.

"It means that anyone who wants to reproduce the Harrogate garden can do so exactly at their own home," he added.

The stone, which he calls Lime Light Rock, is being produced by Keighley based-Abbey Stone Products.

To replicate the rock, Mr Jordan used old limestone from gardens and also got permission from the Yorkshire Dales National Park to take moulded copies on site.

He defies anyone to tell the difference between his product and the genuine article from places like Malham Cove.

Limestone, especially limestone pavement, is extremely rare worldwide and the Yorkshire Dales have half of all the UK examples.

It is protected and thieves face imprisonment or a fine if caught removing it.

His creation has been praised by the Yorkshire Dales National Park for its contribution in helping to create a substitute.