Man builds Norwich Cathedral model from 20,000 matchsticks

Craig Knight-Smith, session co-ordinator at Nansa, said Mr Shackshaft’s passion for building with matchsticks began when he completed a steam train model kit.

“He wanted to make a building, so I printed off images of the Norwich 12 [historically important buildings] and he said he wanted to do the big church.

“We worked on the tower, then the spire, and it got bigger and bigger.”

Speaking of the importance of a creative outlet, he added: “This project has been really pivotal, it started before Covid times, it gave Matthew something to focus on when he came back.

“Routine was blown out of the window, so to come back to something that existed beforehand has been really helpful.

“So many people are capable of so many different things, and sometimes you have to find the one thing they can do, and the one particular way to help, and it just flies.”