Some men have their own man cave, a shed in the garden, but one church minister has his own shepherd's hut.

Rev Rob Hilton, Minister of the Wesley Place Methodist Church in Alsager, built Hilda, named after the Saint of Whitby, during a sabbatical a while back.

He used salvaged wood from old fences and other second-hand material to carefully craft his stunning outdoor office.

Complete with its own log burning stove and stained-glass window, Hilda even has a double bed.

In the corner are shepherds' crooks and lambing ropes and on the door there's a carefully crafted Celtic cross. 

"It's a place where I find peace and where I often come to work, pray and plan," said Rev Hilton.

"The neighbours get used to seeing me wander down here either late at night or early in the morning in my dressing gown.

"The children fight over who sleeps in here when they come to stay for Christmas.

Rev Hilton took 'Hilda' to the Nantwich Show one year

It took Rev Hilton, who is also Superintendent of the Cheshire South Methodist Circuit, around three months to build and he did it all on a budget to keep costs down.

"I studied shepherd's huts and how they were built. It's a place of focus, stillness and mindfulness." 

The hut has a table and an array of books which the Rev Hilton uses for his work.

He got the idea while working in West Yorkshire, travelling to Northumbria where he saw shepherd huts being used by farmers.

Hilda is around 5ft wide and 10 ft long and is movable but Rev Hilton prefers for it to stay put in his garden.

The stunning Celtic cross on the door.

He has taken it to the Nantwich Show but has no plans to move it. It is staying put in his front garden.

In the winter months, Rev Hilton stokes up the fire with firewood, lights a candle and gets down to work or prayer.

A friend designed and made the beautiful stained-glass window (above) and Rev Hilton followed the design of a pigsty to make the curved roof.

He learnt to weld to make the hut and says it's a place he can go to find his own space and "withdraw from everything."

"It's just perfect and such a peaceful place to come, think and work. In winter it's cosy with the fire on."