I’ve spent more than £20,000 collecting over 800 Barbie dolls – but I’ll never sell them and here’s why

A LIFELONG Barbie fan has spent more than £20,000 on 800 dolls — but has no intention of selling them.

Dawn Austin, 44, became hooked as a child when she saw a Malibu Barbie in an airport shop.

Her collection now fills her house though hubby Steve, 45, bans them from the bedroom.

The new film has upped its value by around 25 per cent.

But artist Dawn, from Derby, said: “They are too precious to me.”

"One of my first memories is sitting in a pram and seeing this amazing toy doll in a shop window at an airport.

"I saw all these golden-haired dolls and I asked if they were fairies or angels.

"My mum took me over and bought me a Malibu Barbie and I never let it go. From then on I just wanted to collect them all," she added.

"When I was a child, it was the scope for imagination and play. She could be what I wanted."

Over the last 23 years, Dawn has scoured flea markets and online auction sites like eBay for dolls from her childhood.

As well as her Barbies and Kens, she also has dozens of Sindy and Tammy dolls which are crammed into her three-bed terrace.

Unsurprisingly, Dawn was one of the first fans to buy a ticket to watch the movie starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken.

She said: "I really enjoyed the film but my favourite character was Ken. He was really funny and the whole movie was great fun.

"Since watching the movie, I've got my eye on several more Barbies online which I'm hoping to buy to add to my collection."