World of dolls beats setbacks to be a hit

A popular dolls house fair went ahead despite Arctic conditions and the organiser breaking her leg.

Hundreds of collectors made their way to the Dolls House Collectors Fair at the County Showground on Sunday.

Although more than 70 exhibitors turned up on the day a number were unable to make it because of the snow.

The show was almost dealt a catastrophic blow when Doreen Vincent, who has been organising dolls fairs for the last 30 years, slipped on ice and fell, breaking her leg just days before the show.

But her husband Bob Vincent decided to step in to keep the show on track and took on her responsibilities.

The 64-year-old said: "She was getting into the car on Thursday morning for us to go and collect some things for the show when she slipped on the step and fell, breaking her fibia.

"But the show must go on so I decided to come down and keep the show going."

The show saw exhibitors from across the UK travel to the Weston Road venue where everything from full-made luxury dolls houses costing thousands of pounds down to tiny pieces of furniture were available. Mr Vincent said that despite the weather the response had been good.

The variety of the dolls houses and the stalls has made the twice a year show a hot favourite with collectors who came from all over the country.

The dolls house fair is now in its 11th year and is organised by Yorkshire couple Bob and Doreen Vincent.

Although the bad weather caused some exhibitors to stay away Mr Vincent, aged 64, said he was happy with how the fair went. He said: "It went really well and the response we have had from the public despite the bad weather has been great."

Mr Vincent said the fair had attracted between 300 and 400 visitors. He added that for most people the hobby began out of a fantasy for their dream home which they could never have in reality. He said: "It is a wonderful hobby to have."

The second Dolls House Collectors fair will be held at the County Showground in September.