Roll up, roll up! People interested in starting their own circus can snap up a life-size papier mache elephant, which lives in a Shropshire garden, after it went on sale on internet auction site eBay.

Seller Carl Corvers, 60, from Station Road, Wem, says the life-like “beast” would make an ideal prop for a theatre setting or an Indian restaurant – if the eventual purchaser can fit it in their trunk.

Standing about 10ft tall, the elephant was lovingly crafted from papier mache, wood and polystyrene over six weeks in time for last year’s Wem Carnival.

It was mounted on wheels and dragged around the town by Mr Corvers dressed as Indian spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi.

“Everybody told me I’d never do it but I managed to pull it around Wem twice,” he said. “I started regretting it once I’d left the house though as it’s really heavy.”

The elephant sports a detachable howdah which Mr Corvers said can fit a small person and adds another 4ft in height to the model.

The eBay listing declares: “The elephant is painted grey and will not stand out as artificial in your herd. It has very low mileage and four-foot drive and has recently passed MOT (Ministry of Trunk) inspection.”

The painter and decorator added: “The elephant takes up a lot of space under a tarpaulin in the garden but we thought it would be a shame to get rid of it.

“Somebody somewhere must be able to make use of it and there must be a good home for it. We’re selling it as a complete package but minus Gandhi.”

His partner Mandy Meekin said: “I’m sick of the sight of papier mache and it blocks out light in the garden.”

Mr Corvers first wowed crowds at Wem Carnival in 2007 when he unveiled his model of a rickshaw taxi.

He says he has something up his sleeve for this year’s event but is remaining tight-lipped on what he has in store. Any profits from the elephant sale will go to charities chosen by Wem Carnival Committee. It is listed for auction until Sunday at 8pm priced £1,000.

* Are you selling something as weird and wonderful as a polystyrene elephant online? If so contact the Shropshire Star at newsroom@shropshirestar.co.uk

By Tom Johannsen