A HUGE pirate ship complete with skeletons and spooky lights has been unveiled in Leigh after a couple transformed their driveway ahead of Halloween. 

Lee Whitehair and his wife Julie, who live in Eastwood Old Road, Leigh, have been quietly working on the pirate-themed spectacle since August before revealing it to their neighbours this week. 

The ship, which was created after months of hard work alongside staff from Basildon firm Exact Mix Concrete has been drawing the attention of passers-by with dozens stopping daily to take pictures. 

Wow - The incredible pirate ship in LeighWow - The incredible pirate ship in Leigh (Image: Lee Whitehair)


Julie and Lee are Halloween lovers and decorate their home every year, before deciding to go one-step further than the usual skeleton decorations by creating the huge pirate ship. 

The couple is using the spooky display to raise money for the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance charity, with support from the Leigh Rotary Club.

Visitors are encouraged to stop by, enjoy the creative Halloween décor, and if they can, donate to the cause.

Fun - Julie painting the pirate shipFun - Julie painting the pirate ship (Image: Lee Whitehair)


Lee said: “We have been decorating for years, ever since our children were little. But it never started this big, it has just got bigger and bigger as we keep adding to it every year.

“The last few years it has got a lot bigger as the grandchildren came along, and last year, we did loads of pirates and skeletons, and there were jokes around building a boat.

“So, this year, we did exactly that.”

Amazing - The decorations on full showAmazing - The decorations on full show (Image: Lee Whitehair)


Last year, Lee and Julie decorated their home to raise money for the Neptune Ward at Southend Hospital.

This year they are raising money for the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance charity, with support from the Leigh Rotary Club.

Happy - Lee and Julie take their Halloween decorations to a new levelHappy - Lee and Julie take their Halloween decorations to a new level (Image: Lee Whitehair)

Lee added: “It has been a project we have all been working on. The lads at work helped build it, and then my wife painted it.

“It has been fun.

“We wanted to go even bigger with the ship, but it wouldn’t have fitted on the driveway. This was the biggest we could fit.

“Everyone is welcome, we have no problem with people visiting. It will be completed by Saturday, ready for the weekend and next week.

“We have already had a lot of people pulling up and taking photos, we never expected this response.”