Honey, they shrank the castle! An ancient rural property, transformed into a family home, has been immortalised in miniature under the famous Lilliput Lane brand.

The manufacturers contacted the Shaw family after seeing their efforts to restore 14th century Hellifield Peel, near Skipton, on Channel 4's Grand Designs programme.

Architect Francis Shaw realised a boyhood dream of living in a castle when he brought the property and two acres of land with wife Karen for £100,000.

The couple spent three years transforming the derelict tower into a home, and their progress was followed by the Grand Designs team. More than seven million viewers watched their setbacks, triumphs and joys.

Francis first saw the castellated tower at the age of 14 and years later he saw it on the Buildings at Risk register.

The renovation, which cost more than £800,000, resulted in a beautiful fortress home for the Shaws and their two daughters.

Now the couple's efforts have been immortalised in miniature. The manufacturers of Lilliput Lane ornaments, famous for miniature cottage architecture, have created a replica Hellifield Peel which is just 7.5cm high.

Angela Metcalfe, commercial director of Lilliput Lane, contacted the Shaws after seeing their remarkable restoration on Grand Designs earlier this year.

"It was the sort of television that kept you on the edge of your seat," she said.

She contacted David Tate, founder of Lilliput Lane, who had spent much of his childhood in the village of Woodkirk, where stone for the Peel restoration was mined from the quarry.

The Shaws liked the idea of Hellifield Peel in miniature so sculpting began.

"At Lilliput Lane we never make the subject matter up - it's all real!" said Angela. "We use some artistic licence but we research everything as thoroughly as possible. Never before though have we based our product on a television programme."

Francis and Karen are delighted with their keepsake.

Karen said: "When we were contacted by Liliput Lane about a possible miniature of the house we thought How intriguing to see a model of the castle'. The children loved the idea. We were very pleased with the model as all the important features appear on it."

The couple's ancient property was voted the favourite house of Grand Designs by viewers of the series.

"We were stunned by the response," said Francis. "We received more than 300 letters and e-mails congratulating us and one woman even sent us a very nice bottle of wine."

Hellifield Peel stands on the site of a Saxon wooden hall, but the present building dates from about 1300, when it was built to fend off the Scots.

Henry VI had battlements added to it in 1440, and it was owned by the Hammerton family for several centuries. The last people to live there were prisoners of war in the 1940s.

When the Shaws bought the neglected building three years ago it was a wreck. The roof had caved in, the walls were crumbling and trees were growing out of it. The couple painstakingly restored the property using old documents and photographs for guidance.

"We intend to be here for a long time," said Francis. "They will probably have to take me out in a box."

This summer the Shaws opened a bed and breakfast business at their historic home. For more details call (01729) 850248 or e-mail info@peelcastle.co.uk Lilliput Lane launch their new model in September. For further details call the Lilliput Lane Collectors' Club on (01228) 404022.