I built a 30ft yacht in my back garden to bring joy at Christmas

Ian Rankin has always enjoyed building small model boats but, after a cancer diagnosis, the 82-year-old set himself a new challenge.

The great-grandfather has spent the past 12 months hand-crafting a 30ft yacht in his Bearsden back garden with the hope it will “bring joy” and “make people happy” over the festive period.

The boat and its 33ft mast are decorated with hundreds of Christmas lights, which can be seen by those passing by on Milngavie Road.

Ian says that people often say it’s brought a smile to their face, with one neighbour telling him that it has “lit up her Christmas”.

He says the project has also acted as a form of “therapy” for him, while he underwent treatment for bowel cancer.

“It’s done me good,” he says.

“It’s given me a purpose to get up in the morning and do something.”