I made my own built-in outdoor pool using old palettes and a cheap paddling pool, everyone says it looks like a pro job
A DAD has shared how he built an outdoor pool using cheap buys.
Pete Elliot took to social media to show off his DIY skills and people were left seriously impressed.
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The dad said he made the pool for his son but was also reaping the benefits after slaving away on the build.
He said: "Finally done. Not bad for around £315. Pretty much all the money went on the framework with £64 on varnish and a few quid on screws.
"So glad I had a pallet load of timber from years ago that cost me £45, as that's the wood you see.
"I didn't even scratch the surface with that wood either so the main bit you see cost under a fiver.
"It is now my new favorite part of my garden."
The pool looked lavish with its wooden frame and steps leading up to the decking and people were stunned by his crafting skills.
He first varnished the wood before putting up the paddling pool and building the frame around it.
Once it was done, he gave the wood a final varnish to ensure it didn't get spoilt by the water.
Pete continued: "Hopefully many summers will be enjoyed sitting on it with my feet dangling in the pool with a beer in my hand."
He later revealed that the pool was kept warm with a heated topper that also keeps it clean.
Parents are scrambling to The Range to nab new kids' toys - there's inflatables, swimming pools and up to 40% off
To keep the pool clean, he used a net to fish out any debris as well as chlorine tables and pool algae cleaner.
The chuffed dad also said he would only keep the paddling pool up for summer and put it away when it gets cold again.
The post was shared on the Facebook group, Garden Makeover Ideas On A Budget, and people were quick to praise the dad for his DIY skills.
One person wrote: "Absolutely awesome, and the fact you built it probably gives you a sense of achievement, congrats."
Swimming safety advice
Experts have revealed some of their top advice for both adults and kids heading to the water this summer:
How to stay safe at the beach
Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said: "If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, try to relax and float until you are free from the rip and you can then swim to safety.
"If you see someone else in danger, alert a lifeguard or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard."
How to stay safe at the swimming pool
Tiny Hearts Education, former paramedic and CEO Nikki Jurcutz said: "Always put your little one in bright or contrasting colours that would be easy to find in an emergency.
"It only takes 20 seconds to drown, little tips like this could save a life".
An Auqabliss spokesperson added: ' Swimming toys such as noodles, dive rings, floaties and beach balls can be dangerous if left in the pool.
' Children may try to grab these from the pool's edge and fall in."
How to stay safe at a waterpark
Ali Beckman, Puddle Ducks Technical Director, said: "Never send a child down the slide on their own, not only are they going to be entering the slide pool area independently, they then have to exit the pool and wait for an adult.
"And wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently.
' Waterparks are often very busy places and it's easy to lose sight of a child in a split second."
"Brilliant, looks amazing," penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: "Stunning."
"I love this,' claimed a fifth.
Someone else added: 'Looks great I could do with one of those in my garden."
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His own local abattoir, Long Compton in Shipston-On-Stour, Warwickshire, just 13 miles from his farm, has closed. This leaves him to travel further to get his livestock slaughtered at greater cost and stress to the animals. He has been forced to liftshare to make it viable. Once there, large abattoirs do not usually accept rare breeds. 'The legislation from the Government makes it virtually impossible to run an abattoir,' a flummoxed Clarkson complained. Partridge is uncharacteristically exuberant when it comes to Clarkson. 'Jeremy is telling people what the truth is and I'm all for it,' he says. ' Countryfile just talks about silly birds… [but] people listen to Jeremy, I applaud him. He tells it as it is.' Another of Clarkson's neighbours, first generation farmer John Weaver, 38, now travels 40 miles to use Partridge's abattoir after the closure of Long Compton. 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Dr James Cooper, the deputy director of Food Policy says: 'While we understand concerns about rising charges, the reality of global vet shortages and wider pressures being felt across the economy mean these checks now cost more to carry out.' Nonetheless, after a meeting in June, FSA chair Susan Jebb acknowledged both that 'smaller businesses face a disproportionately greater cost of regulation' and noted 'the importance of the discount [scheme] to their viability'. She added that the board would 'develop proposals for a potential new scheme' but that the decision would ultimately rest with the government. Partridge has had to install eight CCTV cameras at the cost of around £4,000. But the employer national insurance hike was the final nail. 'To save money we no longer trade in the abattoir or shop on Mondays,' he says. Do they make a profit? He grunts. 'Barely,' he says. 'What saves us is we own the property. If we rented we wouldn't be here.' 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