I've got a motorway in my garden - it's my shelter in hot weather

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. I've got a motorway in my garden - it's my shelter in hot weatherImage caption, The M4 motorway in Port Talbot runs above Narelle Cowan's back garden and protects her sheds and her daughter's toys from the elementsByPeter Shuttleworth, Gareth Bryer and Garry Owen, WalesPublished2 hours agoNarelle Cowan and Aimee Lipley's gardens have a few things in common. Both have pretty plants, chairs for al fresco dining - and one of the UK's busiest motorways. About 75,000 vehicles travel over the elevated concrete monolith hanging about 45ft (14m) above their plot every day on the main route between London and south Wales.

"I call it my free gazebo," said Aimee. "I love it under here, when it's raining you can walk to the shops without getting your hair wet. "The two-lane carriageway in the sky was one of the first sections of the M4 and a relic of the 1960s freeway building boom after the explosion in postwar car ownership.

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Figure caption, What it's like to have a motorway in your garden? There are many examples of motorways built close to people's homes in the UK's biggest cities such as London, Birmingham and Glasgow but few are more stark than in Port Talbot where the M4, which opened on 22 July 1966, cuts the Welsh industrial town in half. "I've got three pillars of the M4 in my back garden, I use one to help hang my washing line up," said Narelle.

"It's convenient because the motorway covers the back half of the garden so I've a dry area and it acts as my sunshade, which has been handy in recent weeks. "Image caption, The M4 sweeps over back gardens are close to houses as it passes through the narrow space of land between hills and the sea at Port TalbotThe 34-year-old mum-of-one told the she "doesn't really notice vehicle noise especially when you've got the music on and enjoying yourself". "The M4 is like a background murmur, you get used to it," added the property developer.

"I know some wouldn't want a motorway in your garden but it doesn't bother me or my neighbours, we've got a lovely community and many have been around here for years and years. "This Port Talbot stretch of the M4 is a congestion hotspot which can frustrate drivers - but many passing over the 4. 8km) long section between Cardiff and Swansea may not think of the people living almost underneath them.

Image caption, Aimee Lipley has always live around the M4 motorway in Port Talbot and grew up playing underneath with the road deck offering cover from rain"We do get a lot of rubbish in our garden from people throwing things out of the vehicles on the overpass above," added 39-year-old Aimee, who has lived in the shadow of the M4 for eight years. "We get to see what people are eating, sometimes you get cigarette ends and it's interesting to see what crisps people are eating.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.