LOCAL stonemason Pippa Unwin from Aveton Gifford has just returned from the Alps where she took part in a snow carving festival.

Pippa, along with a team from the Westcountry: Patrick Barker and Mark Luscombe, took part in the Valloire Snow Carving Championships in the French Alps, and although they didn’t win this time, they managed to work a Trump protest into their work.

‘Our theme was The Three Billy Goats Gruff’ explained Pippa, ‘and because the final day was also Inauguration Day for the US President, we made the troll into Trump.

‘We were put up in a local hotel and fed in proper French style all week and met some lovely people - the other teams were all very friendly and welcoming.’

A couple of years ago Pippa visited Chicago for a snow carving competition where they won the Team Spirit Award.

‘Sadly we didn’t win anything this time, but it was an honour to take part as it is the longest running and most prestigious European Snow Carving festival. We are hoping to make this a regular event, and are considering applying to carve snow at the South Korea Winter Olympics next year!’ said Pippa.

When not carving bridges and trolls out of snow, Pippa runs Mewstone Masonry, based at Avon Bridge, Aveton Gifford.