Timaru tinker’s spider letterbox in the running

Paul Dunstan loves tinkering.

In fact, the Timaru man loves it so much, he’s filled his yard and garage with thousands of items he uses to make an assortment of quirky items.

One of those includes a spider letterbox at his Harborough St house.

Now it has been nominated for the Loveliest Letterbox competition – a contest run by Neighbourly to find New Zealand’s loveliest letterbox this summer.

Dunstan made the letterbox out of materials from a single bed frame, mattress springs, a shelving unit, lawn mower control arms, lawn mower springs, a shopping trolley, letterbox, carpet, pipe brackets, wire, rivets, bolts and screws. It even features solar-powered lights.

Dunstan said his mother suggested he enter the competition.

‘‘I built it about four years ago, just because I can,’’ he joked.

‘‘You’ve got to have that artistic flair to do random stuff.’’

Dunstan said the creation was inspired by steam punk.

Among his other creations is an ‘‘Irish rocket brazier’’.

‘‘It spins around and the fire comes out the wrong end.’’

Dunstan said he had always loved tinkering.

‘‘It’s just about having something to do when I retire in 20 years’ time.’’

He has about 100 lawn mowers in his yard.

He fixes and services them as part of a hobby he loves.

‘‘There’s no such thing as a lack of imagination,’’ he said.

Entrants were asked to visit www.neighbourly.co.nz/ lovelyletterbox and upload their photographs by January 31 for one of four $500 prizes.

A panel of Neighbourly and Resene judges will select up to 10 Loveliest Letterbox finalists.

‘‘I built it about four years ago, just because I can.’’