Man completes 'amazing' model of Norwich Cathedral

The model is expected to go on display at a Nansa event in the summer

A man has been hailed for his patience and eye for detail after creating a model of Norwich Cathedral with more than 20,000 matchsticks.

Matthew Shackshaft created the towering spire and every flying buttress and arched window of the city landmark in a painstaking labour of love over five years.

He began the project before the Covid pandemic, with the help of staff at Norfolk and Norwich Send Association (Nansa), which supports people with special educational needs and disabilities.

"We are really proud of him," said Meg Mason, Nansa's engagement and events co-ordinator.

"It's taken so long, and we have seen it over the whole five years, and seeing it complete makes us realise how amazing it is."

Mr Shackshaft, who is autistic, glued the matchsticks together over a cardboard base created by staff, which also allowed him to work on sections of it at home.

"When you look at the detail, all the windows, and how he has shaped the matchsticks around the windows, it is incredible," said Ms Mason.

"Matty is incredibly talented, and it is a testament to the staff who have enabled him to do this independently," she added.

Matthew Shackshaft had started working on the model before the Covid pandemic

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."