Replica Spitfire unveiled ahead of village carnival
BBCA hand-built replica Spitfire is to form a major part of this year's carnival celebrations in the Derbyshire village of Tideswell.
The model fighter plane was built by Andy Batty and more than a dozen volunteers to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the annual event, which began in 1946.
He said the project had taken several months of hard work but it had been a lot of fun.
The carnival is due to take place on Saturday.
The Spitfire was critical in defeating Luftwaffe air attacks during the Battle of Britain in 1940.
The RAF said more Spitfires were built than any other British combat aircraft before or since World War Two - 20,341 in total.
Batty told the BBC his creation was designed to reflect how the carnival began the year after the conflict ended.
"We'd had a few pints and I went 'oh, I'll build a half-size Spitfire and stick it on the end of my drive'," he said.
The replica, made out of plywood, hardwood and plastic, has been taking shape since February with the help of about 16 pals.
It was lifted into position with the help of neighbours.
Batty said the response to their creation had been very positive.
"It's taken quite a lot of people by surprise," he said.
"Every year we try to do something and we try to better it every year.
"We did the Moulin Rouge last year, which got a lot of attention, but I think we've gone a little bit further this year and people are really excited."
Carnival Day, which is due to get under way at 10:00 BST, marks the culmination of Wakes Week, an annual village celebration thought to date back 750 years.
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