Stevie Gadsby, 30, teamed up with her husband Benjamin, 32, to give the neglected toy a festive makeover and turn it into a home decoration.

While their kids, Kye, nine, and Rayne, four, are now banned from playing inside, the 4x4 foot grotto has got them all in the Christmas spirit.

Mum Stevie said: "I love it, it screams Christmas!

"It’s different, you don’t see it everywhere.

"I’ve had parents ask me if they can take pictures outside of it with their children which I love.

"Rather then throw it away we made it into something we can use each Christmas."

Stevie's eldest son Kye received the £500 playhouse for his fourth birthday from his grandparents, but lost interest in it a few years ago.