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Dusting this lot must be a bit like painting the Forth Bridge: just as you reach the end it’s time to start all over again.

But a little dust is nothing compared to the pleasure the collector gets from the thousands of knick-knacks on show in her home.

Every conceivable surface in the 1950s semi is covered with the treasures the 81-year-old owner has spent a lifetime foraging for at car boot and jumble sales.

Collector's items: An 81-year-old woman has spent years putting together a huge array of knick-knacks in her home in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Devoted: Hazel has spent a lifetime foraging at car boot and jumble sales for the items - and admits she still dusts each one 'without fail'

In the utility room, you can just make out the sink in the corner, surrounded by miniature bottles of coloured sand.

More than 150 clocks tick tock away in the sitting room, watched by countless Toby jugs. Five hundred china pandas are crammed on to a set of shelves.

The collector, a widow from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, who asks to be known only as Hazel, has lived in the house since 1955 and says she lost count long ago of how many items she has in total. Her husband John, who made the shelves for her, died this year.

Every bear inch covered: Hazel's 500 china pandas take up an entire wall. She also has ceramic pigs, cows, rabbits, deer and elephants

Passing the time: Hazel's has a collection of 150 clocks in her sitting room, which are watched by countless Toby jugs

She admits the dusting has become a problem now she has to do it all on her own but she still does it ‘without fail’. Changing the clocks is also ‘a bit of a nuisance’, she added.

Her collection may be precious but she is far from precious about its future.

‘When I go I’ve told my grandchildren to just get a large wheelbarrow,’ she said. ‘Fill it with all these ornaments, wheel it down the slipway to the sea and get rid of them.’ dailymail.co.uk