Tim Mander in Walter Raleigh Dead Ringer photo

Tim Mander, 61, from Wembdon, dressed up in clothes specially made to replicate the look of Sir Walter Raleigh, his ten times great grandfather.

The outfit was based on a portrait of Raleigh painted in 1598 by William Segar.

It was all part of a photo shoot in a London studio by photographer Drew Gardner of 'dead ringers' for famous people - alongside Tim at the session with Winston Churchill's great grandson Randolph.

Tim spent two hours in make up before slipping into the Elizabethan look. His false beard alone cost £700.

History records that Raleigh removed his cloak and placed it over a puddle to keep Elizabeth I's feet dry.

Tim, who was until recently head of property services at Sedgemoor District Council, said: "Sir Walter was from East Budleigh in Devon and we're related to him through my paternal grandmother, Mary Raleigh. I have Raleigh as a middle name, as do my two sons.

"We've both got long noses and I get seasick, as did he. He was at sea for weeks on expeditions but never seemed to find his sea legs.

"I have mixed feelings about him. He went to the Americas and got to know the ways of the people he was trading with.

"He was interested in science and a great writer. But he was also involved in pretty unpleasant business in Ireland.

"The court was a dangerous place to be in those days and he was executed by James I for treason. A lot of family assets – he had Sherborne Castle in Dorset – were then taken away."

Tim added: "I've known about my connection to Sir Walter all my life.

"My dad did lot of family research and I recently read a couple of biographies.

"Raleigh was a social climber and not from a particularly aristocratic family.

"He was essentially Elizabeth I's bodyguard, although he upset her because of his secret marriage to one of her ladies in waiting.

"She later forgave him, but things went wrong with James I, who put him in the Tower of London and later executed him on trumped up charges."