WITH this ring, I thee weld.

A Bury jeweller has thrown down the gauntlet by claiming a world record time for transforming a section of a customer's unwanted gold chain into a handmade wedding ring.

Robert Daniels, who has been in the profession for 47 years, carried out the intricate work in just 11 minutes and 31 seconds.

And his achievement is now available for everyone for witness after it was filmed and uploaded on to YouTube where it has received almost 6,500 hits.

The video features all the steps which the 61-year-old undertook to fashion the piece of chain into nine carat gold wedding band. And he's hoping that others in the trade will be inspired by his efforts and aim to challenge his world record.

Mr Daniels, who has his own store on The Rock, explained: "When the filming actually started, it was intended to be a run-through and rehearsal. But because it was going so well, I decided to stick to it and it was all done unscripted and in one take without any edits."

In the video, he gives a running commentary on all the required elements of the work which includes melting the section of gold chain, softening and bending it into a wedding band, filing it and using a saw to achieve the right size and soldering it to get the join.

Mr Daniels is also seen pressing and sandpapering the ring, stamping it nine carat, polishing and cleaning it before putting it into a packet.

He added: "I had tried to do this in a target of inside 10 minutes. To claim a world record for this was easy to do because nobody had ever done it before. So, that's why I can say I've set a world record. But I know I can do this about 45 seconds quicker.

"I'm quite willing to take on all comers. If someone else wants to do this and to try for their own world record, then good luck to them. But I'll be trying to beat their time."

Mr Daniels, whose business is involved in handmade jewellery, retail, repairs and alterations, started in the trade at London's Hatton Garden jewellery quarter in 1968 and served his apprenticeship. He came to the North West in 1985 and has been trading in Bury since 2000.