A GIANT jigsaw covering half a room has finally been completed after 18 months of back-breaking work.

Retired Leyburn farmer Derek Bradley, 85, was given the huge 18,000-piece puzzle for Christmas 2015 by his granddaughter Kate Lawson and her partner John Foley.

He started work on it immediately after the festive period that year - and for the last 18 months it has been his labour of love. Now it is finally complete.

His daughter Rachael Lawson explained: “Every year they bought him a jigsaw, which he usually finished quickly and easily.

“They’d originally bought one with 9,000 pieces but thought it a bit too easy so they asked Santa to swap it for a harder one.”

The puzzle started life on the dining table in four separate sections but eventually it was placed on the living room floor where it just grew. The completed picture - called “ The Watering Hole” as it features jungle animals - measures nine feet by six feet.

During the long process Mr Bradley has neglected his garden and has also endured countless bouts of backache - but he never gave up on his difficult mission.

The normally generous Mr Bradley has been quite precious about allowing other people to help complete his jigsaw, with his daughter and a neighbour only completing single figures of the pieces.

“It’s been hard work but I’ve really enjoyed it,” he said, adding: “The elephant’s head was the hardest because all the pieces look the same.”

However the pensioner is happy to take up a new challenge: “I have actually got a new one lined up - but as it’s only 1,000 pieces it shouldn’t take long.”