A MAN who has been collecting promotional pens since 1988 is said to have the largest collection in Spain.

Santiago García, from La Caridad (Asturias) has over 25,000 pens given away by companies to advertise themselves.

His collection started when, 21 years ago, he picked up a pen in the shape of a screwdriver advertising a pub called Creta.

Santiago liked it so much that he put it in a drawer for safe keeping.

Soon afterwards, the drawer was full.

What started as a fun hobby has now become a quest that takes up a lot of his free time – and spare rooms in his house.

All the pens kept in drawers are classified in order, but most are on display in a private exhibition in his office in the duplex where he lives.

The pens even have a webside dedicated to them.

They include a limited-edition pen commissioned by the New York fire brigade to raise money for those left orphaned by the September 11 attacks.

Others include pens produced by the railway board, RENFE, to celebrate the launch of the high-speed TALGO train, and a Tío Pepe pen with a hat on it.