Cliff stairs extend back garden

The tower of stairs took four months to complete

A couple from Medway have had a 50ft (15m) flight of stairs built in behind their house in order to extend their back garden.

David and Moira Spearman of Rochester, got the wooden structure to connect the two parts of their back garden that were separated by a cliff.

The 70-step structure cost them £10,000 and gives them panoramic views.

Previously Mr Spearman abseiled down to the bottom of the garden and used ladders and ropes to get back up.

Mrs Spearman said she had to face her fear of heights to climb to the top of her garden for the first time.

"After I'd got over the terror of the climb I thought it was just wonderful and we had to have access to this land."

The stairs were designed by architects and took a team of builders four months to complete.

The couple have created a vegetable patch and decking area in the new part of the garden and hope to install a greenhouse next year.

Mr Spearman, who has lived at the property for three years, said he had lost more weight climbing the stairs than he ever had in going to the gym.

The garden was split in two by a cliff