Express & Star

Walsall father takes pumpkin carving to another level - in pictures

It started as a hobby a to get his son excited in Halloween but 10 years on Simon Patel has turned pumpkin carving into an art form.

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The 40-year-old father of two from Primley Avenue, Walsall, is back in the 'spirit' this year, expecting to make dozens of detailed models – with London celebrity haunts Mahiki bar and Bodo's Schloss among his growing list of clients.

Once October swings round the house husband wastes little time breaking out his carving tools and has already made 16 pumpkins for a staging company based in the capital. He started out carving for his nine-year-old son Dylan's first Halloween.

He said: "I have been doing this 10 years. I wanted to do something for my eldest son's first Halloween but since then I have just gotten better and better at it.

"Now I get requests from all over the place. I am taking some down to London right now. I have done them for Bodo's and Mahiki in the past. I will probably make 30 to 40 this year. Once October comes round I get started. My kids start asking 'dad can you make me a pumpkin'.

"I used to do them for the house but now I get so many people asking me for them I don't really get the time."

Mr Patel made a name for himself using rudimentary spoons but two years ago bought a £150 set made specifically for carving pumpkins. And with some of his efforts selling for around £75 each it has proved a worthwhile investment.

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