Shed-load of glory on offer for enterprising shed owners

But the Shed of the Year competition is causing a storm in the Black Country, with two of the finest hidden hideaways in the area set to feature in a national TV show.

For many, a shed is just somewhere to store tools.

For Anne and Brian Bailey in Wolverhampton and Paul Slim in Stourbridge, however, their sheds mean national acclaim, awards, a TV show and possibly a £1,000 cash prize.

Their sheds are to be featured in Amazing Spaces: Shed of the Year - a three-part Channel 4 programme which starts on July 24.

Mr and Mrs Bailey are nominated in the cabin/summerhouse category.

Their entrancing hidden gem garden in Compton - dubbed the Tardis Garden because of its small size but plethora of features - contains a unique shed, called Gothic Retreat.

The garden took five years to create and also features a Japanese tea house.

And the Gothic Retreat - which beat off competition from up to 2,000 entries to reach the final - is inspired by Castle Coch in South Wales.

It is made from two tons of reclaimed stone, timber and cedar shingles and features stained glass windows, shell mosaics on the walls and ceiling and also houses reclaimed church furniture.

Mrs Bailey said the couple were delighted to have been nominated and were looking forward to receiving national exposure.

She said: "We're very pleased and it's great to get a higher profile for the garden.

"It's nice to be recognised when you've put so much effort into it.

"It's also nice to know there are a lot of other crazy people like ourselves out there."

Mr and Mrs Bailey bought the house, in Waterdale, back in 1990 but it is only since semi-retirement that they have devoted time to doing it up.

The Compton masterpiece is now part of the National Gardens Scheme.

The couple's garden will also be open on Sunday for another open event, from 1.30pm to 5.30pm.

Meanwhile film buff Mr Slim, aged 37 from Stourbridge, kitted out his shed with a home cinema, complete with a huge screen and surround sound.

Called Reelwood, the shed is nominated in the 'unique shed' category and also contains a full film collection, movie memorabilia and a cinematic screen.

The project took around three months and £15,000 to complete with Mr Slim, who used to run the Movie Junction store in Stourbridge, doing a lot of the work himself.

It's fitted with four sofas and a 119-inch screen, a 3D projector and 11.2 surround sound.

The shed - can hold 20 people - also has a lobby where Mr Slim stores his huge collection of 3,000 DVDs and Blu-Rays.

Visitors can also put on slippers or get hold of a hot or cold drink from the foyer just as they would in a real cinema.

It is also kitted out with a selection of movie memorabilia which Mr Slim has collected over the years.

Other categories include pub shed of the year, eco shed of the year and garden office shed of the year.

The overall winner will also receive a wooden plaque, £100 worth of sponsor Cuprinol products and a giant crown for their shed.