A father-of-two has transformed his Suffolk garden into a spa for his family by building an incredible hot tub out of an industrial water tank.

East Anglian Daily Times: Matthew Pryce-Hall has brought the spa to his home in Great Cornard, by creating his very own hot tub in the garden. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALLMatthew Pryce-Hall has brought the spa to his home in Great Cornard, by creating his very own hot tub in the garden. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL (Image: Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL)

DIY fan Matthew Pryce-Hall has occupied himself over the last two weeks by turning an IBC water tank, originally planned to create a pond, into an epic hot tub in his garden in Great Cornard.

The scaffolder initially had his heart set on building a pond, as he loves fishing with his six-year-old daughter Amelia, but his girlfriend Sarah wasn’t too keen on the idea.

Instead, Matthew decided to create a hot tub for the whole family to enjoy and with the help of Plumbcity in Sudbury, he got straight to work.

East Anglian Daily Times: Matthew Pryce-Hall has turned an IBC water tank into a hot tub in his back garden during lockdown. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALLMatthew Pryce-Hall has turned an IBC water tank into a hot tub in his back garden during lockdown. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL (Image: Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL)

“All in all it took me about two weeks to build,” explained the 34-year-old, who said the process would have been quicker had shops been open.

Matthew started by cutting open the metal cage surrounding the tank, taking the plastic off and installing some wood around the outside to create the structure. He then insulated the tub and attached a Lay-Z-Spa filter pump.

Lay-Z-Spa inflatable hot tubs have been flying off the shelves in lockdown, with families looking for home-based entertainment this summer.

East Anglian Daily Times: The dad-of-two from Great Cornard used an IBC water tank to convert into a hot tub during lockdown. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALLThe dad-of-two from Great Cornard used an IBC water tank to convert into a hot tub during lockdown. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL (Image: Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL)

“The girls absolutely love it,” said Matthew. “In the mornings my youngest daughter Amelia and I sit together in the hot tub and watch fishing videos, it’s great.”

Matthew has been into his DIY since being diagnosed with tinnitus in 2018, after waking up one day with what he describes as a deafening loud ringing in his ears.

Tinnitus is an incurable disease, but Matthew finds that having something to focus on helps.

East Anglian Daily Times: Lyla, 10, and Amelia, 6, will be spending their lockdown in the hot tub thanks to their dad. The final hot tub creation at Matthew's home in Great Cornard. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALLLyla, 10, and Amelia, 6, will be spending their lockdown in the hot tub thanks to their dad. The final hot tub creation at Matthew's home in Great Cornard. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL (Image: Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL)

He said: “When I was diagnosed I thought my life was over, but I’ve just learnt to cope with it and keep busy.”

Lockdown has therefore been difficult for Matthew, but the dad says he has adored being able to spend more time with his family.

“It is a relief to be back at work,” he explained. “But I really miss my girls, as it’s been the longest time I have spent with them since they were born.”

East Anglian Daily Times: The final hot tub creation at Matthew's home in Great Cornard. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALLThe final hot tub creation at Matthew's home in Great Cornard. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL (Image: Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL)

Matthew predicts his home-built hot tub cost around £375 altogether.

“The satisfaction I get from sitting in it and thinking I built it is great,” said Matthew. “You really can do anything when you put your mind to it.”

Matthew also created a ‘love’ sign out of a sheet of metal and the glass holder using some pallets.

East Anglian Daily Times: Matthew Pryce-Hall, a scaffolder, also created a 'love' sign out of a sheet of steel. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALLMatthew Pryce-Hall, a scaffolder, also created a 'love' sign out of a sheet of steel. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL (Image: Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL)

Have you built anything unusual or spectacular during lockdown? Let us know of your lockdown creations here.

East Anglian Daily Times: Matthew's two daughters, Amelia, 6, and Lyla, 10, love the hot tub that their dad has created at their home in Great Cornard. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALLMatthew's two daughters, Amelia, 6, and Lyla, 10, love the hot tub that their dad has created at their home in Great Cornard. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL (Image: Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL)

East Anglian Daily Times: Matthew Pryce-Hall is proud of his new hot tub, which he created with an IBC water tank at his home in Great Cornard. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALLMatthew Pryce-Hall is proud of his new hot tub, which he created with an IBC water tank at his home in Great Cornard. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL (Image: Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL)

East Anglian Daily Times: The hot tub took around two weeks to complete during the lockdown. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALLThe hot tub took around two weeks to complete during the lockdown. Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL (Image: Picture: MATTHEW-PRYCE HALL)