A couple bought an abandoned bank for £31k and transformed it into a home - complete with the original safe and doors.

Ryan Green, 28, and his wife, Nicole, 27, a care assistant, bought the former bank in February 2022.

The renovation project started later that month and saw the pair transform the old NatWest bank - turning it into a shop and a two-bedroom flat.

The couple worked on the renovation for six months and completed the project in October 2022 - which costed them £60,000.

Ryan said the renovation was challenging because it was an "empty shell" and the pair are currently living in their dream home. "

Ryan Green, a property developer, from Penmaenmawr, Conwy, North Wales, said: "I grew up in the village that it was in. "

"I always knew it was there and it had been shut down for ages."

"I wanted it, mainly because I saw it and I grew up with it in the village. I never remember it being open."

"It's such a cool building and it was going for so cheap - it was a no-brainer."

"The auction is brilliant, within 30 days, we got the keys."

The property had been empty for nearly 10 years before it appeared on the market.

With a budget of £31k, Ryan decided to try his luck.

He said: "My laptop died after putting the final bid in. I powered it back up and saw that I'd won."

"It was unbelievable"

Renovations on the former bank started in February 2022 and the couple moved into the property in March - to live there while they were working on the bank.

They spent £60k installing a new bathroom and kitchen, eight new double-glazed windows, removing 75 per cent of the walls and replacing two roof.

He said: "We had to the whole building which needed decorating and new plasterboard. It's just one large open-plan area."

"We needed a new ceiling, new heating, new rewiring, a fire alarm. It was just an empty shell."

"It's had so many issues and been a big learning curve."

"We ended up having to remove and rebuild a whole wall as it was so damp."

Despite the issues, Ryan's hard work renovating the old NatWest bank proved a success, as it has now been valued at £250k.

After being boarded up for so long, Ryan says the locals are glad to see it being given a new lease of life.

He said: "I know most people in the village."

"Everyone seems to be happy seeing it come back to life."