Former South African president NelsonMandela has been honoured in many ways during his lifetime.

But a Kent visitor attraction has come up with a unique new way to commemorate the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Quex Park, in Birchington, has immortalised the 94-year-old's face in corn for this summer's Quex Maize Maze.

The two-acre maze was launched five years ago by Dawn Tilley and Karen Botha and -as the site's Powell-Cotton Museum houses specimens and objects collected on expeditions to Asia and Africa - the design normally has an African theme.

Dawn, 44, said: "Previous mazes have included a native with a spear and an African animal.

"This year, Karen suggested creating it in the image of NelsonMandela, as he has such a high profile at the moment."

A design was created by Dawn's brother, physical therapist and keen amateur artist Darren Tilley, and then an exterior firm used a GPS plotting device to create the maze in the shape of the anti-apartheid hero - who has been critically ill.

Dawn said: "We follow behind the GPS guy clearing the pathway with weedkiller. It has to be done in early June before the corn is fully grown."

The results will be unveiled to the public when the maze opens for the summer on Saturday.

Dawn, who also lives at Quex Park, where she runs a livery yard, said: "We are really pleased with it.

"When you are working on that large scale it's difficult to make it exact. That was one of the reasons we wrote Nelson across the top of the head."

The theme has been continued with 12 picture boards around the maze posing quiz questions for children.

The initial letter of each answer spells out the name of the place where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.

Mum-of-one Dawn added: "My daughter Charlotte is 10, and she asked me whether choosing Nelson Mandela was a good idea for a family attraction as children might not know who he is. But children should know. It falls to us to educate them."

Quex Park's Maize Maze will be open daily from 10am to 6pm with the last entry at 5pm. Entry is £2 per person. Visit www.quexpark.co.uk.