Retired builder creates a 6ft, three-bedroom semi-detached house in his back garden

He spent almost a year working on the model, made of real brick and slate in his living room.

Then he had to remove a rear window frame from his own full-size house so he and some friends could move the replica into his back garden.

Dave Thomas stands proudly beside the 6ft replica of a semi-detached house

Dave, 69, from Newton Heath, Manchester, said: 'There's not many people who can say they have a house in their back garden!

'I have grandkids but they are abroad so I'll just be showing it off to people who come round.

'I'm not one for staying in and watching telly and I needed something to do.

Dave and friends had to remove a rear window frame from his own full-size house so he could move the replica into his back garden

'I've always built things and my son is a builder so I got some of the wood that he was going to put in a skip.

The retired builder's model home now sits in his front garden

'I cut it into brick shapes, dipped it and got to work.'

Using his living room as a workshop he spent hours on the project.

The replica now needs windows putting in and wiring up.

But when it's completed Dave says he has no intention of settling into a quiet retirement and has set his sights on his next project.

'I've got to put the finishing touches to this,' he said. 'But I fancy building a church next.'

His son, Dave junior, 44, said he was delighted with his dad's efforts.

'You need something to do when you retire,' he said.

'You can't just stop. I'm happy for him. He could be in the working man's club every day boozing and betting but he's not.'