A wacky gran has built her own coffin to save money on her funeral - which she will use as a BOOKSHELF until she dies.

Ceri Stalker, 60, spent six weeks building the coffin at an adult wood working course in Worcester.

The coffin, which is 6ft tall and 40cm wide, will be used as a bookshelf to store her Freda Carlo and crime novels in the meantime.

Ceri, who has four grandchildren, said she has already planned out her funeral and decided to make the casket as a way to save money for her family.

The Councillor for Warndon had originally gone to the Building Block, Worcester to promote DIY for the locals but found she had a knack for carpentry.

She said: "I went to the building block to promote it as a way to encourage the locals to help develop their DIY skills.

"I really enjoyed it, I started off by making small boxes and I thought I could do more.

"Originally, I had an idea to make a plant stand, but I had second thoughts and decided to make something more useful.

"I knew I wanted to make a coffin. I got asked if I wanted to make a stool, but no, I told them I would like to make my own coffin.

"I've got my funeral plan in place and it will save my family money.

"I think paying for funeral services can be a rip off. I want my family paying as little as possible when I die.

"It can also be a difficult for a family be asked a series of questions about a coffin for their loved one, whilst still grieving.

"I don't want them spending more money on me when I'm dead than when I am alive.

"I might decorate the lid, but I like the style of it now - it is quite rustic looking. It could also be used as a big coffee table when the lid is on.

"I hope I won't need the coffin for sometime but I like to be prepared.

"Because it is a bookcase in the meantime, I am in no rush, but I will eventually install a head rest and waterproof lining at the bottom.

"You can learn all sorts from these courses. It develops people's skills and makes them qualified to get a job.

"I've never done carpentry before. People from all backgrounds go to the workshop.

"The idea is to be a social hub and encourage residents to take part and feel part of a community.

"This facility is a really valuable resource.

"Death is a serious topic and I wanted to do this to also show that it doesn't have to be serious all the time."

The Building Block offers an array of classes and workshops and the volunteer-run sessions help people develop DIY skills and save money on their projects.

Construction skills centre manager, Pete Miller, 49, said: "This is our first coffin project. It has been a novelty, but that's what it's all about.

"And it will be a useful item too - it will provide storage space and will also be a coffin."

"We are all about community engagement. We want to help everybody and anybody."

Manda Curly, a volunteer at the centre said: "The beauty of this course is that you learn simple DIY skills and can use them at home. They are valuable skills to keep for life."