Kimberley Pollard grew up in the middle of the motorway.

And the 23-year-old reveals a list of things you might not imagine about life in between the east and westbound carriageways on the bleakest stretch of the M62.

Kimberley, 23, spent a happy childhood at the house in the middle of the motorway - feeding lambs, and playing in the fields as bemused drivers passed by on the M62.

Her granddad was Ken Wild, the man who's gone down in history as a stubborn Yorkshireman who refused to move when the motorway was built.

Now we know that's not the real story - and there are plenty of other things you might not know about one of the most famous houses in the UK!

It's actually quite peaceful

"I used to stay in a big bedroom on the westbound carriageway side. It had a four poster bed - you could get lost in it. There was triple glazing which kept out lots of noise. You'd sometimes wake up if someone beeped their car horn in the middle of the night, but the sound of the motorway used to send me to sleep.

I used to help him feed the lambs who had lost their mothers, and watch the shearing. I used to have pet guinea pigs at my home in Rishworth and we ran out of hay. My granddad took me up to Top Moss - the little barn type place on the left of the eastbound carriageway opposite the farm, where he kept hay and various farm essentials.

"He took me up on the back of his quad and I was terrified! I was determined to walk back down so he followed very slowly and carefully on the bike with a huge bail of hay! I'd love to be able to go on the quad bikes with my granddad now.

"My granddad's second wife, Beth, was always cooking and baking. She used to let me play in the fields around the house and watch the traffic go past, and see people's confused faces!"

It's better to take your chances with the motorway than tackle a ram in mating season

"When they were building the motorway my mum used to go through the underpass to get to school. My granddad put the rams into the underpass and closes the gates. Mum and her friend were too scared to go through the underpass because they were terrified of the rams - so they decided to run over the motorway instead!

"My granddad won a trophy for the best hill-bred ram. They were terrifying."

You can post a letter there without knowing the address

(Image: Kimberley Pollard)

"Once a little girl sent a letter addressed to 'the house in the middle of the motorway' and it got there. It said, 'I have seen you on my way home and I have always wondered who lives there.' I think my granddad wrote back - and even invited her and her family to come up and stroke the lambs."

You get used to unexpected visitors

"If people broke down they'd climb over the fence from the hard shoulder - but this was when the motorway was a bit quieter!

"Quite a few people used to come in and have a cup of tea and phone the break down people.

"Granddad and his wife at the time, Beth, were very welcoming."

Childish pranks can have unprecedented outcomes

"They used to let me put wood on the fire but one time when they weren't looking, I put some plastic on and it slowed down the traffic on the westbound carriageway going towards Manchester. There was a bit of a traffic jam!"

"I was five or six, so it was about the year 2000. I got in a bit of trouble but I can see the funny side now!"

It might be a famous landmark but to its residents, it's just home

"It was just a normal life for me. I was more interested in looking after the baby lambs!"

"To me it was just a place I spent time growing up - it was just my granddad's house. It never struck me as being unusual because I grew up there.

"Inside it was quite old fashioned with large rooms. The living room had wooden beams and family photos and lots of certificates, rosettes and trophies. It was a typical farmhouse. It had stone floors and dark furniture.

"There was a big open fire and all the rooms were fairly large. You had to mind your head walking through every room, which my dad found out pretty quickly!

People will make up stories about you

"The story is my granddad was a stubborn old Yorkshireman who refused to move - but he's actually from Lancashire! He had a broad Yorkshire accent from living up here for so long.

"He was far too subdued for that - and he wouldn't have had a choice in the matter because the farm was rented from Yorkshire Water.

"I was 11 when he passed away. He's buried at overlooking Dean Head Reservoir at Scammonden. His grave is in the middle of nowhere. The headstone is a rock with an inscription written by one of his friends. It says "Born a farmer with an eye for stock, granted his wish to be with his flock'.

"We put flowers down and covered it up to stop sheep eating them!"

You might end up with a new pet now and again

(Image: Kimberley Pollard)

"My mum ended up adopting a dog that had been dumped on the motorway. Someone threw her out of a car. Mum persuaded granddad to keep her. She was a mongrel and they called her Candy. She wasn't hurt but was very frightened."

You'll probably end up on TV

"Where the Heart Is was filmed there, and Sarah Lancashire used granddad's bedroom as a dressing room.

"Granddad spent ages making the outside look beautiful - but the TV crews came up and planted loads of reeds and made it look a dump!

"They didn't use the inside for the programme. The set they used was really dingy and mucky, and I thought everyone was going to think the house was awful inside!

"Grandma was interviewed about the house for a BBC documentary. I was sat with my parents watching it, and my dad spotted himself queueing up for his wages! My dad worked on the motorway but the documentary was made before he'd even met my mum!"

Christmas Day might be quiet on the motorway but it's all systems go on the farm

(Image: Kimberley Pollard)

"Mostly Christmas was short and sweet because work never ended on the farm! Lots of family to go and see on my dad's side too. One year we went for Christmas and it snowed badly. We needed to get home and got stuck in the car with all the presents. We had to call my granddad for help to come and tow us out on the quad bike! So, eventful!"