A vintage-obsessed couple have shown off their unusual hobby - collecting dolls.

Childhood sweethearts Madeline and Malachi Dressel, both 35, have more than 200 'plastic children' including 30 life-sized dolls in their home in South Carolina.

Mrs Dressel said: 'The majority of our collection together, especially the large dolls, has been the last three years.

'About 2016 is when we stumbled upon the first big [doll] at the thrift store. And it really grew from there.'

Vintage-obsessed couple Madeline and Malachi Dressel, both 35, own more than 200 'plastic children' including 30 life-sized dolls in their home in South Carolina

While her love for dolls goes as far back as her childhood, her husband's fondness for collecting 'plastic children' was only realised after they moved in together.

He described his childhood as a 'quintessential male upbringing in the US' and was always encouraged to play with something 'manly'.

But today, his love of dolls is just a strong as his wife's, even claiming he has his own dolls among their collection.

The couple have an Instagram account where they share candid family photos of themselves and their dolls to their more than one thousand followers.

Many of the photos are of their adorable 'family' playing in the park, baking and having tea parties together.

They said their account pokes fun at their friends who share staged family photos and question them about not having their own children yet.

Their shared collection grew after they bought their first big doll at the thrift store in 2016

The couple even have an Instagram account where they share candid family photos of themselves with their dolls to their more than one thousand followers

They said their Instagram account pokes fun at their friends who share staged family photos and question them about why they haven't had children of their own yet

The couple explained the dolls are not a replacement for child, but rather that they love to play, restore and create scenes with dolls - even making memes about the dolls - as a creative outlet.

Mrs Dressel said they are aware of social media comments calling them 'very disturbed'.

'I think most people actually... when it's explained to them a little bit in context, they think it's pretty interesting, it's pretty funny.

'They may not want to meet the actual dolls in person themselves but they get a kick out of the picture and the idea,' she added.

In one photo Mrs Dressel stages an image of herself pretending to mix cake batter with a doll

Another image shows Mr Dressel carrying his 'plastic child' on his shoulders and the other on his side

The couple also shared a photo of themselves with four of their dolls for a Christmas greeting card

She added: 'If we are going to be the creepy doll people, we are going to own it.'

Some of the dolls are over 50 years old, so they pamper them with 'spa days' where they spend hours cleaning and restoring them.

They even take the dolls out to thrift stores for to find vintage children's clothing to dress them in.

The couple's friends are equally enthusiastic about doll collecting, however some people in their circle don't understand the her and her husband's hobby including Malachi's best friend Michael.

He admitted he found the collection slightly creepy and overwhelming, however ultimately he thinks their hobby is 'amazing'.

While the couple have friends who think their hobby is 'slightly creepy and overwhelming' - they Dressel's say they 'aren't embarrassed or ashamed of their collection' (Pictured left to right: Andrew Dickerson, Grayson Phillips, Malachi Dressel, Michael Coates, Madeline Dressel)

'I think it's one of the coolest things I've ever seen in my entire life. The fact that they are so candid and really don't care what other people think. That's one of the reasons why I love both of them. They are some of the weirdest, most upfront people.'

The Dressels aren't embarrassed or ashamed of their collection. In fact, they love to show it off.

Mrs Dressel said: 'I'm not shy about showing people the Instagram.

'When I get that dreaded question, "What do you do for fun?" - well, let me show you what I do for fun and we'll find out if we're going to be friends or not,' she added.