Leonard Martin constructed the intricate house from scratch as a way to fill his time. 

 

But he soon became hooked and started to make it as real looking as possible, spending £6,000 on the masterpiece. 

 

Now, the 6ft-long labour of love has six lavish² rooms complete with cavity walls, marble and wood floors, soft furnishings and one-of-a-kind artwork. 

 

The 70-year-old said: "It is unbelievable, if I even say so myself." 

 

Ceilings are painted plaster, which have been gilded³ with 24ct gold leaf, while the chandeliers feature £100 worth of Swarovski crystals. 

 

Each wooden floorboard is individually laid and French polished and each room is delicately illuminated⁴ by tiny electric lights and glowing fireplaces. 

 

He even commissioned a friend of a friend, famous for creating the artwork in King Farouk's palace in Egypt, to paint the delicate works of art for each room. 

 

Leonard said: "I had it on display for the public to raise money for the local village hall then I had to move it back to my work shop where it's still sitting on a table. 

 

"It took four people to lift it into place so it won't be moving any time soon! I have also built a fantastic funfair, it took me seven years. 

 

"I'm 70 now so I'm a bit too old to do it, I would make more houses if I had somewhere to put them, but they are so big and too heavy to do now." 

 

Leonard hopes to sell the house to a stately home or something similar to preserve it - even putting a miniature 'for sale' sign on the front lawn.

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