A man has spent ten years building a replica of Tower Bridge out of 1.6million matches - two years longer than the real thing.
Michael Williams crafted the 6ft-long structure every evening over a decade and it now has 156 working lights.
The replica of the real London landmark, which is 800ft long, has two household bulbs lighting up the two towers, and an illuminated 52 gun galleon underneath.
The 'water' is filled with lights.
Michael Williams has spent 10 years and used 1.6 million matchsticks to make a replica of Tower Bridge
Mr Williams said: "Most of my friends think I'm barmy. They call me Mad Mike.
But everyone who sees it is stopped in their tracks."
Although the model is just a tiny proportion of the real thing, it took two years longer to build. Construction began on the original in 1886 and finished in 1894.
The road layers' matchstick modelling hobby began after he started making small boats but his passion for historical structures led on to his big project.
Using photographs and books he managed to recreate the bridge by sight, carving each stick by hand.
When asked why he chose Tower Bridge, he explained: "I wanted something English and historical. This must be one of the most known structures throughout the world."
Using photographs and books, Williams managed to recreate the bridge by sight, carving each stick by hand
But the 41-year-old nearly saw his masterpiece go up in smoke when the intricate model began smouldering back in 2000 and the model maker had to take the whole thing apart.
Mr Williams, from Shoebury, Essex, said: "Me and my brother were sitting on the sofa admiring it when it started smoking. I leapt up and ripped the plug out of the wall.
"There was something wrong with the lighting. I had to completely start again.
"Recently I realised I hadn't added the shipping lights and I put them in. It's taken me until four weeks ago to get it right.
"I've had to plan how to do this properly because I don't want to build something for someone to take it home and it goes up in flames.
"But it has been worth it. Where ever I light this up, everyone just stops."
Mr Williams, who is not married, spent three to four hours a day working on the model until he finally finished it last month.
He spent three to four hours a day working on the model until he finally finished it last month
He said: "I never realised I was artistic until I started this. My teachers thought I was useless at art but they aren't always right.
"They said I didn't have any patience but I think I proved them wrong." When told the real thing took two years' less to build, he added: "That's amazing. But I don't regret it - it's been worth it.
"I just wanted to build something to leave behind in life which is not just bricks and mortar - something different.
"Other people cut up sheep and call it art but I think this is art." The now plans to sell the model to fund a studio and his next top secret strike of genius.
Mr Williams hinted: "It's big, it's historic, it's in London and every man in the UK would admire it."
Anyone wanting to see the model or bid for it can log onto
www.micksmatch.webs.com.
Source: Daily Mail UK, July 7, 2008
The amazing Tower Bridge replica made out of 1.6million matches that took 10 years to build 
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