A COUPLE who started out trying to brighten up their area have had their home practically overrun -- by butterflies.

And butterfly barmy Beryl Jewell today issued a challenge to other East Lancashire residents to see if they have more ornaments.

Visitors from far and wide flock to what is known locally as the Butterfly House.

Michael and Beryl Jewell started off with just a handful of the handmade items which they fastened to the outside of their council home.

But the butterflies soon spread and now nearly every inch of their home is covered with the colourful creatures. At the last count there were more than 90.

"I started off with about six of them at first just to brighten the place up," said 54-year-old Michael.

"Then we put more up and it went from there. Kids would give them names and everyone was talking about them but there's no room for any more."

The couple moved to their home in Dunoon Drive, Shadsworth, Blackburn, in the early 80s and were struck by the "ordinariness" of the place.

It wasn't until a decade later that registered disabled Michael hit upon the butterfly effect.

"I was in a garden centre when I saw these model butterflies which looked nice but cost about £25 each," he said. "I thought I could make them cheaper myself so I went home and started making them.

The butterflies come in three sizes -- "very big, medium and small". They start life as a cardboard template drawn on to a piece of plywood. After carefully cutting them out and painting them he enrols the help brother-in-law Gary Shaw to wall-mount them.

They were an instant success with the estate's youngsters and evidently with judges of a Blackburn Council-organised garden competition which awarded the Jewell's garden the best in the speciality section in 1991. And then again in 1992,3,4,5,6 and 7 when Michael graciously retired from the competition.

But the lure of the butterflies still goes on for most of the residents on the Shadsworth Estate and beyond.

"One family from Scotland were visiting relatives in Blackburn when they saw the house," said Beryl. "They come back every time they are in Blackburn to see the house. Everybody knows it as the Butterfly House around here."

The couple's seven grandchildren are also keen fans of the wall's winged wonders although not everyone has been so appreciative.

When the Rovers Return pub was open, opposite the couple's home, revellers would try and pull them down. But the Jewells have contingency plans.

"There are 20 more of them in the garage in case something happens," said Michael. "The weather might blow them off or people have a go at them but we just put the new ones up in their place."

Are you butterfly-barmy and have more on your house? If so, ring the newsdesk on 01254 678678.