FISHERMEN Jimmy and Arthur Mole have been making waves in their street by building a 33ft trawler in their front garden.

The brothers, who have been fitting out the boat in Jimmy's garden to make it seaworthy, said people have been stopping in amazement since the vessel arrived from a Cornish port six weeks ago.

Jimmy, 40, said his neighbours have been understanding and so far has had only one complaint.

"The council came round and said they had received an anonymous complaint, but they were fine about it when I explained that it's only going to be here temporarily. It's just more convenient for us to do it up here because all the tools and things we need are here."

The boat was hoisted in to the garden at Grangetown, Sunderland, using a low-loader and a crane, which will be back in the next few weeks to transfer the vessel to Sunderland Marina, where the brothers will be using it for fishing.

Jimmy said even partner Susan Patton, 40, does not mind the boat being in the garden.

And he said it has two very keen admirers - 42-year-old Arthur's sons, Jimmy and Adam.

The brothers, who have built boats from scratch before, are yet to think of a name for the trawler, which will be seaworthy in less than three weeks.

A neighbour said: "It has certainly brightened up the street and to begin with I was a bit worried it was some kind of giant garden ornament or a play house for the kids.

"Actually, when it goes to sea I think I will miss it a little bit, it's a magnificent sight towering over the street."