A Men's Shed, set up to help the community get involved with practical projects, has taken on one to build an ark for a Salisbury church.

Salisbury’s Men’s Shed group is making parts for the St Mark's Ark project.

The group, based at Alabaré's head office, was launched in 2018 as a space for members of the community to get involved with projects like fixing wheelchairs, picture framing and jewellery making, while making friends.

This time, they are working on animals for an interactive art structure, to be assembled in the garden on St Mark's roundabout.

Planned to be launched in the autumn, the ark will measure just under 5 metres long, 2 metres wide and 2 metres high.

Organisers say it has council support but still needs some permissions granted.

The idea for the ark was born at the start of the first lockdown last year, when rainbow "arcs" began popping up in the area as signs of hope during the Covid pandemic.

The project aims to involve schools and other community groups to build an Ark to symbolise the church as a place of welcome and safety for all.

Men's Shed volunteers working on the project include Rod Gottard, Peter Cavilla, Dave Spicer, Francis Bray, Denis Casey and John Page.

St. Mark’s & St. Andrew’s is a two-congregation Anglican parish in the Diocese of Salisbury.

For more information, visit the St.Mark's and St.Andrew's, Salisbury Facebook page.