Banned wool house is fire-proofed

About 500 women helped create the knitted house

A unique knitted house will go back on show in Devon after it was taken down amid concerns about fire risks.

The 140sq ft (13sq m) woollen house was on show in Bideford until it was deemed dangerous by the fire service.

Now it has been fire-proofed and is to start a nationwide tour on Thursday in aid of charity.

The Gingerbread House, the brainchild of Devon woman Alison Murray, was knitted by hundreds of women across the world over thousands of hours.

It is to be erected at the three-day Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts Show at the Westpoint Arena near Exeter, starting on Thursday.

Knitted stove

Ms Murray, who said she was shocked when the house had to come down after raising £10,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital, said organisers of the Westpoint craft exhibition had no problem with the house being shown.

"Exeter is the first stage of a tour, which ends in March, taking in Harrogate, Cardiff, Brighton, Glasgow, Birmingham and Liverpool," she said.

There was even the possibility of the house being exhibited abroad in the wake of publicity surrounding its "demolition" in Bideford.

The house has knitted furniture and household goods, including beds, dresser, chairs, pictures and table.

The stove, and even the breakfast in the frying pan, are also hand-knitted, as well as goodies like sweets, cakes and biscuits.

A woollen garden, complete with flowers, surrounds the dwelling.