Madrid man builds CATHEDRAL FROM TRASH ~ MubO

It's the sheer size of the structure that first strikes you. Almost 40 metres (131ft) tall, its spires and giant dome tower over the surrounding apartment blocks in this Madrid suburb.

Justo Gallego or Don Justo, as he's known, embarked on his epic endeavour almost half a century ago and now with 85 years old, he still has a huge amount to do.

After leaving life as a farmer to become a Benedictine Monk, Don Justo came down with tuberculosis which forced him out of the monastery in a greatly weakened state. He promised himself that if he survived he would erect a church dedicated to the Lady of The Pillar who he prayed to during that turbulent time.

Justo Gallego has been working on the massive undertaking nearly single-handedly, even so, he's on site by 6am each day.

The massive undertaking is built almost entirely from local materials that he is able to salvage, and now topped out at 131 feet the cathedral just needs a few finishing touches, like a roof, some windows and permits. The vast central dome took 20 years to erect and there are two dozen more incomplete cupolas around the building.

So far, the town council has tolerated the illicit structure, which lures a steady trickle of visitors to the nondescript suburb. Some suspect the chaotically-constructed church will not outlast its creator.

"It's very difficult to get a license now," says Pablo Queralto, an architect working for Mejorada council. "For example the bricks don't meet minimum standards, either in themselves or the way they've been laid."

But he described the eccentric edifice as an icon of the town now, unlikely to be torn down.

We hope so...