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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Milica Cosic

Extreme hoarder's messy home sells for £125,000 - with his body buried in garden

A hoarder's cluttered house - with a strange secret in the garden - has sold for £125,000, which was more than the ask price.

Huddersfield's best-known eccentric Jake Manglewurzel 's abode sold for £50,000 more than the guide price of £75,000.

The badly fire-damaged detached house at Salendine Nook, Huddersfield, was put up for auction earlier this year by Auction House Manchester.

However, to the horror of hopeful bidders, Jake's remains - which were buried in a tomb - were included in the purchase.

While, the auction house confirmed that the home has indeed been sold, no details of the purchaser have been made available.

The MP for Huddersfield has said they are 'delighted that his house is going into good hands' (Gerard Binks/MEN MEDIA)

However, whoever took on the property faces the major task of demolishing and rebuilding the home.

The auctioneers did give a fair amount of warning about this and told prospective bidders before placing their bids.

They said: "The existing house now requires extensive rebuilding works and refurbishing throughout, but there is the potential to significantly extend the existing property subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents."

Jake Manglewurzel self-described himself as the town's "joker-in-chief", as he kept the city in stitches for his antics.

The madcap jester's most famous joke was when he was hilariously driving around with a kitchen sink and other items strapped to the top of his motor.

During the funeral of Huddersfield legend Jake Manglewurzel, his friends carried his coffin - complete with wheels (Gerard Binks/MEN MEDIA)

Because of this, he became so well-known and TV companies started to take an interest in him.

In fact, he had a documentary film made about himself and was broadcast in Huddersfield several years ago.

Sadly, he tragically died of cancer in August last year, aged 83.

His wife, Jackie Smith from Leeds, is understood to inherit the proceeds from the sale of the house.

Following the tragic death of Jake, his wife, Jackie Smith, is understood to inherit the proceeds from the sale of the house (Gerard Binks/MEN MEDIA)

However, she declined to discuss the sale.

Speaking about the sale, Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman - who knew Jake well - said: "It's nice that Jake's house has been sold.

"Jake Manglewurzel was a real character and once gave me a passport to Wurzeland and was mostly an amusing character but not always. I'm delighted that his house is going into good hands."

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