Her shed was previously dubbed ‘the worst in Britain’. Now a Newport pensioner boasts the trendiest hideaway in the business after fashion designers gave it a radical makeover.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Audrey Bazley's shed was rotting and covered in overgrown ivy before receiving a makeover from top fashion designers, Eley Kishimoto.Audrey Bazley's shed was rotting and covered in overgrown ivy before receiving a makeover from top fashion designers, Eley Kishimoto. (Image: Archant)

Audrey Bazley can enjoy her two passions – being outdoors and reading – after her decrepit shed was transformed into a mini retreat complete with shelving units for her novels, a comfy chair, cosy rug and chunky blankets designed to beat the autumn chill.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Audrey's new shed.Audrey's new shed. (Image: N/A)

The bizarre renovation came about after Shed of the Year sponsors Cuprinol completed a nationwide search of the most miserable garden shacks.

Judges normally inspect more than 1,900 sheds a year before crowning a winner – with previous finalists including an up-turned boat and tardis.

However, this year the competition was opened up to find the opposite.

It led them to Newport where they found Audrey’s shed concealed by overgrown ivy and complete with both a caved-in roof and debris spilling out the door.

To breathe some life into this once-loved shed, Cuprinol enlisted the help of top fashion firm, Eley Kishimoto, to cheer up the outside of the shed.

Audrey, who is in her 60s, said: “I was over the moon to find out that I had won.

“I have never won anything before in my life so to get a shed makeover from Eley Kishimoto was a dream come true!

“The upkeep of the garden was left to me when my husband passed away and being a big garden, I didn’t have the time to look after the shed.

“The fantastic bright Cuprinol colours are a total transformation from the rotten, ivy-covered shed it once was.

“I’m delighted to have my new reading room outside which will allow me to make the most of the outdoors in the colder months.”

Mark Eley of Eley Kishimoto said: “Growing up in my grandfather’s sheds, it was great to be able to revive the magic of the shed for somebody else. I’ve created the outside design, Cuprinol have provided the colours, and now it is up to Audrey and her family to provide the memories.”