Miniature castle at Rothbury caravan park still bringing smiles to faces

The structure was built by 79-year-old Norman Yates, from Blyth, and sits by his caravan at Coquetdale Holiday Park in Rothbury.

He said the inspiration to build it came from a memory he had as an eight-year-old boy when he would spend his summer holidays in Haltwhistle with his aunt.

Norman recalled: "I remember it was a hot summer’s day and I decided to take a walk up the burn at Haltwhistle.

"I followed the river along and I came to a clearing, there were three beautiful bungalows there.

"In the garden of one, there was this mound with a little castle built on the top of it with flowers going around, and I never ever forgot it, I was just intrigued with it.

"It stayed with me all my life really and I thought one day if I had the opportunity to be able to do that I think I would like to try it.”

Norman explained his process was a case of starting one brick at a time here and there – and it grew over time.

"You just start and the imagination takes over. It just grew out of my mind,” he added.

"I see it in a lot of the little children now, they have the same reaction that I had when I first saw that castle so many years ago. I love for them to have a look and open the doors, they just love it.”