The Bolton octogenarian bringing smiles to the faces of those who need it most

A kind-hearted octogenarian has raised thousands of pounds for charity with his unusual but impressive special talent - making, decorating and furnishing dolls houses.

Ex-joiner Stephen McNally constructed his first in 2006 and has since made 'at least a dozen', which are often raffled off to raise money for causes such as Derian House, The Christie and Manchester Children's Hospital. Over the years, the 87-year-old reckons he has raised around £5,000.

Stephen, who was born and bred in Bolton and has lived in Westhoughton for the past 23 years, described it as a labour of love. He told the Manchester Evening News : "I have four daughters but I never actually really made them when they were growing up.

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"I was a joiner at 15 but I pretty soon got bored of it and I've changed jobs all my life to be honest. But I've enjoyed everything I've ever done.

"'I've been as selfish as anyone else during my life but there comes a point... a few years ago I thought 'we're not born for ourselves alone'. I've got children, great grandchildren, grandchildren and fortunately they're all healthy but it's nice to care for other people."

An emotional Stephen recalled visiting the chapel at Derian House Children's Hospice 'a few dolls houses ago' and admitted that he broke down. He recalled the emotional moment that he visited a young child who won one of his dolls houses in a raffle.

He added: "Visiting the chapel was heartbreaking but I'm glad I did it.

"I made one once for Ronald McDonald House and one of the top guys picked me up in a massive Range Rover to take me to Manchester Children's Hospital. I thought he was lost, I was like 'is this for me?'

"It