WHEN is a shed not a shed? When it’s a pirate ship...

Reg Miller, 65, has spent more than two years converting his home-made garden shed into a pirate ship paradise after being inspired by the film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

The shed, called the Lady Sarah Out of Worthing, has been constructed from recycled and reclaimed materials.

Mr Miller, of Bournemouth Park Road, Southend, said: “At first, it started as a place to keep the odds and ends I collected over the years.

“I keep adding to it because people come up to me saying they have bits and pieces I can have.

“Someone has even given me a church pew, which provides seating round the side.

“My grandkids love it and my wife and I spend lots of time there in the summer because it is all a bit of fun for us.”

The shed is now a contender for the Shed of the Year 2010 competition.

Mr Miller added: “At the moment, I have replaced the pirate flag with an England flag to support England for the World Cup, as well as supporting the troops when they came down for the parade.

“I have added more skulls and swords and there are hooks for a hammock. I am concentrating on planting palm trees, so it will look a bit like a palm tree jungle.”

For more information about the competition, visit www.readersheds.co.uk