IN an anonymous-looking industrial building in Poole, a small group of people creates illusions that excite thousands of people.

The Twins FX, run by 46-year-old identical twins Gary and Paul Hardy-Brown, has created a flying car, a 22ft gorilla, a full-size tyrannosaurus Rex and even a flying Dalek.

The latter was a particular dream come true for the twins, who have fond memories of watching the Doctor Who serial Destiny of the Daleks being filmed at a quarry near their Wareham home as children.

The business grew out of the twins’ experience as stage illusionists, touring the world on cruise liners.

“We did a magic act and it got bigger and bigger. We were appearing helicopters and a Sunseeker power boat,” said Gary.

“Someone said to us ‘Can you fly a person or a dragon over the audience at the Mayflower theatre?”

“It gradually built from that one effect to people coming to us for anything from any flying effect to a full-size T-Rex.

“Our slogan is ‘We make the impossible possible’,” he added.

The pair have become market leaders when it comes to illusions for pantomimes. Among their biggest successes was the eight metre (26ft) T-Rex realised in exquisite detail for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Newcastle. Scary effects like that one are sometimes known in the trade as the “seat-wetters”, said Gary – although the pair have never had a complaint about their illusions being too upsetting.

“Kids like to be scared. They want to boo the baddie and cheer the goody,” he said.

The business – which shortlisted last year in the Dorset Business Awards – employs 15 staff, “from guys that move stuff to skilled model-makers”, said Gary.

The team often have students joining their team, and the nearby Arts University Bournemouth has a well regarded course in model making.

“Model makers tend to do a lot of work making little designs for architects,” said Paul.

“However, if you were to ask 90 per cent of people at university in Bournemouth what they really wanted to do, they want to design monsters. I want to do the monsters.”

As well as producing live effects, the pair have worked in practical effects for TV and film.

“On television you do it three or four times and then don’t have to do it again,” said Paul.

“In the theatre, you have to keep doing two shows a day.”

One aspect of the business they are keen to expand is the hiring out of their existing effects for corporate events. As well as their Poole site, they have a warehouse in Wareham, which is full of their work – as well as their collection of props and costumes from other people’s productions, especially Doctor Who.

Doctor Who fan Paul said creating the Supreme Dalek, which levitated over the heads of the audience during the Doctor Who Live tour, was a career highlight.

“It’s something I wanted to see a Dalek do. It’s something they can do with CGI. However, to do it live, twice a day for 25 dates and to do it in a stadium where everybody can see it is different,” he said.

The business had to be especially security-conscious when working on that effect. It was important that no pictures should get out, and when the Supreme Dalek had to be removed from the building by crane, it was done while the industrial estate was quiet on a Sunday morning.

“I’m a Doctor Who fan and my job is making this stuff,” said Gary.

“That helps with the job. You normally find most people in the business have got some kind of geeky thing about them. There’s a reason why we came into this business in the first place.”