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The pair made a ‘daft’ offer for the 200-year-old abode which had been taken over by squatters - and were astonished when it was accepted.

A couple who bought a rundown “crack den” stately home for just £225,000 spent £2million and ten years lovingly restoring it to its former glory. Reg and Elizabeth Price made a “daft” offer for the 200-year-old Roswarne House - which had been taken over by squatters and fallen into disrepair.

But they were amazed when the bid was accepted in 2013 and they set about renovating the depilated graffiti covered home in Camborne, Cornwall. The stunning Regency Grade-II listed 29-room home was built between 1810-1815, but had been abandoned for six years and was being used by drug addicts.

The Greek-revival style stately home on six acres of land was so bad that when retired Reg and Elizabeth bought it it was literally collapsing. Every window was smashed, doors kicked in, historic features destroyed, the roof caved in, and all electrics and lead stolen.

The couple from Waterloo in London, restore abandoned or derelict homes into stunning flats and properties. They then spent then years and about £2m restoring Roswarne - renovating every room, roof, cellar, garden, staircase - and even the ballroom.

Former conservation officer Elizabeth, 72, had heard about the house from a friend and “fell in love” the place. Elizabeth said: “We came up here one day, there’s six acres of grounds and all the flowers were out. It was just so beautiful so we fell in love with it.

“The former owners originally wanted 750k, but it was in such a derelict state, it was clear a lot of work would be needed to restore it. We made a daft offer of £175,000, and amazingly after some negotiation we got it for £225,000.

“Nobody had lived here for around six years, and it was full of rough sleepers and naughty boys doing drugs and stealing everything. Everything had been stolen, including all of the fireplaces except one and most of the window’s glass.

‘’We spent months picking up needles in the garden and the house too. The roof had totally failed, and so when I came in the entrance hall one august afternoon not long after we had bought it, the whole ceiling had gone.

Couple buy Regency stately home turned ‘crack den’ for £225,000 and spend £2m restoring it to former glory