Formerly homeless man takes pride in model village

A former Navy servant said he observed "the complex weave of society" while living on the streets of London, which inspired him to create a model village years later.

Now a successful businessman in the Staffordshire village of Gnosall, Chris Haycock is extremely proud of his new home.

"I absolutely adore Gnosall. I've never known a community so bonded, together and helpful," he said.

The model has been well-received during numerous public displays and the parish council is now looking to find it a permanent home.

The miniature version of Gnosall is Mr Haycock's first attempt at model making, a hobby he took up in order to avoid "doom-scrolling" through social media.

"I wanted to do something more constructive. Whilst meditating, I suddenly had a vision of Gnosall," he said.

It's a project he's undertaken with his daughter and has brought him "enjoyment, happiness and relaxation".

"It's almost like you're living in your own world. You can completely switch off from everyday life," he said.

The model includes comical features such as the "well-known" roadworks and a troublesome ostrich.

"A couple of years ago there was an incident when a couple of ostriches got loose from a local farm. They started running around the streets which caused a lot of humour," said Mr Haycock.

Jane Cooper, clerk of the Gnosall Parish Council, said the model has had a "real impact" on the village.

"It's fantastic. People have been ringing up asking to see it. Surrounding villages have been in touch wanting one for their village," she said.

The parish council hopes to put the model on permanent display in the Grosvenor Centre for the public to enjoy.

Mr Haycock has ambitions to extend the model to include more of the surrounding areas.

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