SMALL is beautiful! So says Susan Hammond-Jones who has created an enchanting world of make believe in miniature.

The 64-year-old retired secretary is a devotee of doll's houses but they're definitely not child's play.

In fact, Susan is creating a whole new street of doll's houses at the Pendine Park care organisation, in Wrexham, where she lives.

And what's more, the street has even got its very own pub, The Young Man, which is accurate in every detail down to the optics behind the bar.

Susan was introduced to the joys of doll's houses by Carol Young, who is a deputy manager at Pendine Park.

Carol has been hooked on them since her late husband, Graham, bought her one several years ago.

It's a hobby that has turned into a shared obsession which brings great joy and satisfaction to both women.

Susan recalled: "I went to Carol's house and saw her houses and I wanted one.

"It's like having a full-size house that you decorate and furnish yourself, it's exactly the same really on a miniature scale. You can create your dream house

"I get an enormous amount of enjoyment out of this for myself, and I like the company because it brings people in to look at them.

"I just love it and there's always something to talk about when people come in here, which is nice.

"My latest project is the pub. Carol's husband, who died recently, built the pub so it's very special to me, very special.

"It is perfectly to scale. The beer garden is very attractive – I said to Carol, if I knew a pub with a beer garden like that I'd go there.

"The doll's house fairs we go to are fantastic and you can pick up all sorts of bits and pieces.

"With a doll's house, you can do exactly what you want, that's the beauty of it. I could never hope to own a full-size house anything like this. It's just lovely to be able to put in what you want.

"I'm not a 'girly girl' and I never had doll's houses when I was a child.

"But I've taken to it like a duck to water and I'm so pleased I have. As I say, I'm totally besotted with it.

"It's turned into a real passion. I think some of my family think I'm a bit daft but I don't care really.

"It is a very grown up hobby, I wouldn't like children to start playing with my doll's houses.

"I'm incredibly grateful to Carol for introducing me to the world of doll's houses. I've never had a hobby that I've enjoyed more, it's brilliant."

Carol said: "Susan had a lot of time on her hands and we just thought that perhaps her time needed occupying.

"I didn't expect that she'd be quite this interested, she ran with it and it's very satisfying for me.

"I get the doll's house magazines and then I bring them in and there's a diary in the back so we can choose which fairs to go to."

Manager Tracey Smith is delighted that Susan has found a hobby that brings her so much pleasure.

Tracey said: "We put a lot of emphasis on the importance of pastimes and hobbies here at Pendine Park It's really nice. Susan is very enthusiastic and she wants to show the new things she's bought.

"Her interest in doll's houses means she's getting out and about to the
fairs. It means she's got something to look forward to and it keeps her out of mischief – most of the time, anyway.

"I didn't realise how intricate they are. I've got a 10 year old daughter and I wouldn't even think of getting her one of these because she's just not mature enough to actually enjoy it."