Pubgoers were so intoxicated with football fever they decided to build their very own stadium - which even sports the legendary Wembley twin towers.

The grandstand, designed to seat hundreds of football-hungry fans, has been set up at the Travellers Joy pub in Downhall Road, Rayleigh, in time for Euro 2000.

And punters chipped in to help the landlords build an 18-foot replica of the world-famous twin towers at Wembley, soon to be demolished to make way for the new national stadium.

Landlady Bernadette Williams said: "The pub is packed out every time there's a big match, so this is a practical way to fit everyone in. We used to rent a stadium, but these events are so popular we decided it would be more cost-effective to build our own."

Huge TV screens - some up to eight feet across - will present the matches to punters, with myriad smaller screen strategically placed to give the crowd the best views.

Emotions often run high at the games, but problems are rarely experienced with loutish behaviour, added Ms Williams.

She said: "We had Italians here once at an England v Italy game. They remarked to us afterwards how well the crowd here behaved." This latest project is in keeping with the football-themed pub, which boasts an upside-down football pitch on the ceiling.

Another church is opening its doors to football fans for the Euro 2000 clash between England and Germany on Saturday. A giant screen and free refreshments will be open to all at Earls Hall Baptist Church in Hobleythick Lane, Westcliff.

Church leaders will be laying on face-painting for children and a beat the goalie contest. Doors open at 7pm.

It's coming home - pub regulars get into the soccer spirit between the new twin towers at the Travellers Joy

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.