The man who thought 'why not buy a Tardis?'

Andrew Hardy is pleased with his Tardis

It has travelled through time and space but now an original Tardis used in Doctor Who is stationed in one man's home.

Classic car dealer Andrew Hardy, 57, from Coxhoe in County Durham, picked up the giant prop from a museum auction in March 2022.

He said he regularly searches auction sites for cars and noticed the lot from The Patrick Collection in Birmingham.

"I loved Doctor Who as a kid and, when it came up for sale I thought, you know, I've got cars in my showroom from as early as 1901, so I thought 'go back in time with the cars, go back in time with the Tardis'," he said

Mr Hardy has a letter detailing the sale of the Tardis to The Patrick Collection

The Tardis was originally auctioned off in a BBC Children in Need appeal in December 1986 for £3,100.

Mr Hardy does not know when it was used, but the date means it could have been seen alongside the first five Doctors: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker and Peter Davison.

The Tardis stands in his classic car showroom

He paid £4,590 for the purchase, which stands proudly in his classic car showroom, complete with a Jon Pertwee mannequin.

Mr Hardy is now on the look out for a Dalek to add to his collection.

Doctor Who celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

Mr Hardy's Jon Pertwee mannequin in the Tardis