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Man builds pirate ship in Felixstowe back garden Man builds pirate ship in Felixstowe back garden
(about 9 hours later)
A man has built a pirate ship in the back garden of his home in Suffolk.A man has built a pirate ship in the back garden of his home in Suffolk.
Tim Jones, 47, spent about six months erecting the captain's cabin, deck and 25ft (7m) mast in Felixstowe. The ship takes up about half of his garden.Tim Jones, 47, spent about six months erecting the captain's cabin, deck and 25ft (7m) mast in Felixstowe. The ship takes up about half of his garden.
He cut down some of his trees to build features such as a canon, and has added finishing touches including a toy parrot and a pirate flag. He cut down some of his trees to build features such as a cannon, and has added finishing touches including a toy parrot and a pirate flag.
"Everyone loves it," he said. "I'd love to make it bigger but I really don't have the room.""Everyone loves it," he said. "I'd love to make it bigger but I really don't have the room."
Mr Jones said the idea for the pirate ship came from his themed birthday parties, which had previously been based on themes including Mexico, the 1940s and a Medieval banquet. Mr Jones said the idea for the pirate ship came from his themed birthday parties, which previously focused on Mexico, the 1940s and a Medieval banquet.
He started to build the ship for a pirate party and slowly added to it. It is now about 25ft (7.62m) long, and 15ft (4.57m) wide.He started to build the ship for a pirate party and slowly added to it. It is now about 25ft (7.62m) long, and 15ft (4.57m) wide.
"It took me about six months to build," he said. "I spent every free hour I had and weekends building it.""It took me about six months to build," he said. "I spent every free hour I had and weekends building it."
Mr Jones, who works as a caretaker for the adjacent Felixstowe Academy, said the ship had become well known by pupils at the school.Mr Jones, who works as a caretaker for the adjacent Felixstowe Academy, said the ship had become well known by pupils at the school.
"You can see it from the road, there's a big flag flying and the mast - it's quite a sight," he said."You can see it from the road, there's a big flag flying and the mast - it's quite a sight," he said.
"They walk past it every day and you can hear them laughing and joking.""They walk past it every day and you can hear them laughing and joking."
Much of the ship has been built using discarded wood from the school.Much of the ship has been built using discarded wood from the school.
Mr Jones said he had loved pirates since he was a child and now enjoyed having friends over to sit round the chiminea and listen to shanties.Mr Jones said he had loved pirates since he was a child and now enjoyed having friends over to sit round the chiminea and listen to shanties.
It has also proven popular with children of his friends.It has also proven popular with children of his friends.
"They all enjoy running around it," he said. "But I think I'm the biggest kid of all.""They all enjoy running around it," he said. "But I think I'm the biggest kid of all."