A couple who briefly considered downsizing their home have made a dramatic U-turn - by splashing the cash on a River Thames private island mansion worth £3million.
Andy and Sheila Hill first spotted the overgrown D'Oyly Carte Island, near Weybridge, Surrey years ago while kayaking along the Thames.
They were immediately intrigued by the 'ridiculous' patch of land and its eye-catching derelict property, but the house was not for sale at the time.
But their patience soon paid off, with the owner's agent getting back to them in 2021 and the couple eventually buying the island and home.
Instead of downsizing their house in Richmond, southwest London, they took on the ambitious task of renovating the 13-bedroom mansion.
