It may have taken the Inuit hundreds of years to perfect their Igloo-building technique but for one computer programmer in the South Hams, all it took was a YouTube video, a plastic storage tub and a bread knife.

On Monday March 19, as the snow lay crisp and sparkling on the ground, Jonny Beare of Tremlett Grove in Dartington decided to challenge himself to build an igloo. His aim was to have a structure that was large enough and sturdy enough to eat his lunch in before the snow started to melt.

Jonny explained: “I Googled “How to build an igloo” and came up with loads of videos from all around the world. The secret seems to be to angle the blocks inwards and to spiral them slightly so they get higher as they go around.”

He made the blocks using a plastic storage tub. “I filled it with snow and stamped it down to compact it. Then I tipped it out and there was a perfect igloo block. I shaved the top off using a bread knife and put it in place. It was actually quite easy.”

Jonny began building the igloo alone but was subsequently joined by girlfriend, Vicki Escott and her two children, Evie 11 and Charlie 9. Lulu the Springer Spaniel kept a wary distance at first. “She loved the snow but was very suspicious of the igloo,” said Jonny, “but finally she was convinced to come inside.”

It took around three hours from start to finish. By the end Jonny was “freezing” and went home to have a bath and warm up. Later he came back and achieved his goal of sitting and eating his lunch in the igloo.

And how long did the igloo last? “The sun came out on Monday afternoon and it started to melt. To be honest, it only lasted three or four hours. The following morning it was just a big puddle!”