A schoolboy dug up his mother’s vegetable patch to build a 4ft-deep First World War replica trench in his back garden.

Oliver Batchelor, 12, from Ardsheal Road, Worthing, went the extra mile for a history project when he spent a week after school recreating a battle front.

Oliver used mum Saskia Marshall’s allotment, but his parents were thrilled with the end product.

There are no plans to restore the trench to its original state, so it looks like the tribute garden is here to stay, to the joy of Oliver and his sisters Emily, 8, and Lucy, 10.

Saskia, 38, a nursery teacher, said: “Oliver and his sister can play in there for as long as they like – they absolutely love it.

“Their dad knocked up some bunk beds in the shelter and they’ve slept out there in the garden.”

The trench-building came about through Oliver’s history fascination and the old war equipment collection of his dad, Wayne, 42.

Oliver said: “My sister and I started digging a hole and my dad said ‘why don’t you make it into a trench?’.”