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eBay buy is plane crazy

Adam Derbyshire
10/11/2004

WHEN landlord Chris Ollerenshaw decided he needed something new to bring in the punters, regulars thought they were in line for another happy hour.

Instead the publican forked out more than £15,000 on a fresh attraction for his beer garden - an RAF nuclear bomber.

But the 50 year old - who is petrified of flying - still doesn't know if the 40-ton warplane with a wingspan of 100ft will fit behind his pub, the Snipe Inn in Birch Lane, Dukinfield.

Nevertheless, he's already handed over a cheque to flying instructor Brian Bateson, owner of Blackpool Airport, where the plane has stood for 21 years.

The dad-of-three said: "My family think I'm crackers and my regulars just don't believe it, but I think it will be a major attraction. I always say you've got to speculate to accumulate.

"Now I have to find a way to get it here.

"I've spoken to a couple of haulage firms and they've told me the wings and the tail fin will have to come off, otherwise it won't fit down the motorway."

Chris snapped up the Vulcan after making a last ditch bid for it on the internet auction site eBay.

His successful £15,102.03 bid was lodged seconds before the auction closed at 2.30pm on Saturday.

Wife Bev, 38, said: Everyone's calling him Captain Biggles at the moment.

"I don't know what to think.

"It must be the most expensive piece of garden furniture ever.

"I fancied a fortnight in Alcudia, now I will have to settle for a weekend in Blackpool," she added.

Chris now faces a nail-biting eight-week wait to see if Tameside Council planning chiefs give him the thumbs-up for the plane.

The bomber last saw service when it was on standby on Ascension Island in the Falklands War.

Mr Bateson, who bought the jet from the RAF in 1983, said he thought Chris had made a good buy.

He said: "I think the aeroplane, especially with a new owner who will give it some TLC, will be a great attraction anywhere."