Top award for shed which took eight years to build

A man who spent eight years building at the bottom of his garden has won one of the UK's most coveted titles - shed of the year.

Father-of-four Kevin Herbert's shed, named West Wing, boasts a loft area, secret bookcase and roof made of grass and wild flowers.

Now Mr Herbert's hard work has reaped its reward, after he saw off 3,000 other entries to win the top prize during Channel 4's show Amazing Spaces Shed Of The Year.

For his efforts, victorious Mr Herbert has come away with a winner's plaque and £1,000 cheque.

Mr Herbert, a thatcher by trade, said his shed had been inspired by his childhood days of building tree houses and working on it helped him recover from ill health.

Built from 90% recycled material with two and a half tonnes of soil and turf on the roof, West Wing has three separate sections.

This includes a workshop space and a secret bookcase that reveals a hidden room for his and wife Martine's children to enjoy - complete with TV, DVDs and an Xbox - providing relief for the family from their cramped three-bedroom house.