A dad has installed a giant dinosaur sculpture in his front garden - to 'give people something to smile about'.<br /><br />Ben Maddocks, 50, has put the 10ft T-Rex on top of a shipping container which he uses as a garage.<br /><br />The dad, of Bristol, originally bought the metalwork from a garden centre for his son Noah, 6, who is 'into dinos big time'. <br /><br />Ben said: “When we saw it up for sale, we thought we would buy that for Noah.<br /><br />“Because of Noah being autistic and into dinosaurs, he’s got boxes, boxes and boxes of dinos.” <br /><br />The nine-foot-six dinosaur has been living in Ben’s back garden for about three years, but Ben recently decided he wanted to put it on the roof of his house. <br /><br />The father-of-eight explained: “Ultimately, we wanted to put it on the roof of the house - but it weighs so much, about a quarter of a tonne - so we were worried it might come through the ceiling!<br /><br />“So I bought myself a shipping container, which is my garage, and thought I’d put it there for my son Noah, given his passion for dinos, but also to give children something to smile about.<br /><br />"I didn't expect it to do what it's done - but don't get me wrong it does stand out of course!<br /><br />"Noah didn't know I had put it up as he was at school - so when he came home around the corner, he was like 'Oh my god, my dino is on the roof!'.<br /><br />"He believes it climbed up there himself..<br /><br />"It's amazing - the amount of children who stop to look and smile, cars that stop to take pictures.<br /><br />"It's lovely that it is bringing a sense of smile and positivity to the community.<br /><br />"Rather than having lots of negativity, it is something that is making people happy.<br /><br />“There’s not a lot to smile about lately, so it’s making kids' days."<br /><br />The sculpture is made out of metal, and Ben says he was able to get it on the container with 'great difficulty'.<br /><br />He said: "I lifted it on with ropes and stuff but got it up there.<br /><br />"He’s well bolted down as you don’t want that falling on your head!"<br /><br />Avid biker Ben also voluntarily runs Bikers in Bristol as well as being a full-time carer for his dad. <br /><br />He said the dinosaur will remain at their home for a long time.<br /><br />He added: “If I come across something a bit weird, different or unusual, I normally buy it because, as my wife says, that’s the way I am.<br /><br />“We just get on with things and enjoy it, and if the kids are happy, I’m happy.<br /><br />"Because its brought such a sense of happiness to lots and lots of people, the dino is not going to be coming down anytime soon."
