Anything Eskimos can do . . .

NEVER mind building snowmen — ambitious Oldhamers have given Eskimos a run for their money by constructing igloos.

Six-year-old Jacob Chaplin created his own winter wonderland in Oldham’s snow-covered Alexandra Park.

His dad Martin Chaplin and some other volunteers helped him make the most of the big freeze by constructing the igloo after the worst of the wintry weather hit the borough.

Mr Chaplin, of County Street, Hollins, said: “There were a few adults and my son who built the igloo. It was a decent size, about 10 to 12ft wide, and took us about three hours to make. I used to build them in the back garden when I was a young lad.

“I told Jacob a couple of years ago that if we got plenty of snow we would do it one year and we’ve certainly had enough snow. Jacob was made up with it. He was chuffed.”

Sadly the igloo didn’t survive for long — when they returned to the park it had been demolished.

Will Buckley built an equally impressive igloo in his back garden in Lower Lime Road, Limeside, and it’s still standing several days later.

With relatives help it took eight hours to complete.

He said: “It’s still solid and will probably be solid in two weeks. They all go for who can build the biggest snowman so I fancied trying something different.”

Will Buckley, Harvey Chapman, Kelly Buckley, Reece Buckley, Leah Wisemen and Marshall Chapman all mucked in and were delighted with the brrr-illiant results.