DRIVERS passing through the village of North Barrow near Castle Cary could be forgiven for looking twice at the curiosity adorning one of the house roofs.

Perfectly parked just above the side entrance is a red four-door car which, the owners of the house say, has caused quite a few motorists to slow down and take a look.

The vehicle was a pet project of Mark Wake, 23, which has now fallen by the wayside. He bought it from a friend to fix up after it had failed its MOT test.

But the project ground to a halt and the car began to take up too much room on the drive, so the Wake family used a crane to get it out of the way.

Mr Wake's mum, Carol, said: "We do notice the cars passing by and slowing down to make sure they're not imagining things and a few horse riders have commented on it as well.

"It's become a bit of a tourist attraction and something of a local landmark."

The car has been on the roof for around two years but Mrs Wake hopes it will not be a permanent property feature.

She said: "I hope it will come down before this coming Christmas; whether Mark will get it sorted or whether it will be broken up for parts I don't know.

"One previous Christmas he said he was going to put a boiler suit on, dress up as Santa and get in the car, but that hasn't happened yet."

Mr Wake is a former Lovington Primary and Ansford School pupil who pursued an apprenticeship as a mechanic.

He was unable to find a placement and now works for his father in the family steel fabrication business, AP Wake.

He still helps family members with their cars from time to time.

Mrs Wake said: "It's a bit of a space-saving exercise to have the car on the roof, but I hope it's down before too long."