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A bird memorabilia collector has returned to his parents’ home after he filled his own with ornaments.

Lawrence Cobbold, 38, has filled every room in his three-bedroom semi with his 21,600-strong collection, so goes to his parents’ house to cook and do his washing.

The warehouseman said: “I was nine when I bought my first picture then, when I was 16, I got crazy with it.”

He spends up to four hours a day cleaning and arranging the £40,000 stockpile, including 15,000 ornaments, 4,800 thimbles, 1,000 fridge magnets and 300 pictures.

Dad Tony, 60, who used to keep 300 live canaries and budgies, said: “It is ridiculous. I hope I die before him, I don’t want to clear all this out.

“But it’s harmless, it’s not like he does drugs.”

Lawrence, from Plympton, Devon, still plans to scour car boot sales and charity shops to add to his haul.

He said: “More thimbles would be good.”