FLAMBOYANT businesswoman Margo Grimshaw has come up with a unique idea to mark the new millennium in her own back garden.

Margo, of Toad Hall, Preston New Road, Blackburn, had the idea to carve Jesus Christ into her 20ft Dutch elm tree after it died from Dutch elm disease 10 years ago.

Margo, who owns Blackburn nightclubs C'est La Vie and Never Never Land, said: "The shape of the tree made me think that it looked like somebody on the cross. I had been thinking about building the sculpture for a long time, as my contribution to the Millennium.

"I think people are perhaps forgetting what the Millennium is all about, as it marks a very special birthday."

Once the carving is finished, two planks will be installed behind the tree to form the cross, and the carving will be floodlit so that it stands out from the road.

Margo begun work on the sculpture earlier this week with her friend David McDonough, who is a joiner and builder. She said they had to take a lot of the tree down with a chainsaw because it was so big. They hope that it will be finished by tomorrow.

Mr McDonough, of Preston Old Road, Feniscowles, has carved the sculpture himself. He said it was the first time he had ever done anything like this and it was a far cry from his usual plastering, building and brickwork.

He said: "I don't get the chance to do things like this very often and I'm really enjoying it. I could have been carving the sculpture blindfolded after all the instruction I've had from Margo. I'm quite astonished how it's turned out so far.

"I'm going to make sure it is protected so that it lasts as long as possible. We might creosote it or leave it in its natural state."

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