A widow was left surprised after finding out about her late husband's hidden hobby - as he had been secretly filling their attic with antique taxidermy.
Julie Gittoes, 62, paid to have her attic boarded out and after the workmen started the job they asked her what they should do with all the boxes.
She had no idea what they were talking about, then soon they were pulling down a lion's head, a conger ell, a zebra and other stuffed animals.
She had no idea her partner, Kevin, had spent years hoarding dozens of cased animals in their attic, which is now being described as one of the "most unusual private collections" by auctioneers.
What do you think about Kevin's incredible collection? Let us know in the comments...
Julie, 62, from Blakedown, near Kidderminster, Worcs., said: "I was never allowed into the loft but, after I lost Kevin, I needed some work done in the attic.
"The workman said to me, 'Did you know there are a lot of boxes up there?' I found 12 pieces of taxidermy I had no idea about.
"I'm amazed Kevin managed to squirrel them away without me knowing."
Julie has since learned that their son James had helped his dad to move the items into the loft so she wouldn't find them.
She was aware of Kevin's interest in taxidermy but had no idea how vast his collection was and went on to find an extra 150 pieces tucked away in their garage.
Julie added: "The garage was Kevin's domain and I didn't go in there much.
"I knew he had some more taxidermy in there but I never realised the extent of it. They were stacked one behind another on deep shelves.
"I think he felt a bit guilty about buying so many pieces so he didn't tell me."
The collection included a circa 1920s lion's head with real teeth, conger eel, otter, white rabbit, badger, fox, plains zebra and hartebeest, a type of African antelope.
Among the peculiar finds was a large glass display case featuring a puppy dog, a pair of red squirrels and a green woodpecker dating back to the 1860s.
There was also a multitude of fish and birds including an albino blackbird, moorhens, herons, lapwing, curlew, Long-Eared owls, pike and perch.
Julie continued: "I know some people think taxidermy is a bit strange but Kevin was fascinated by it.
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"He always loved country pursuits. When our daughter, Esther, was small and had sleepovers, some of her friends were terrified when they walked into the hall.
"Esther did a school project on taxidermy when she was 10. The teacher must have thought we were a bid odd.
"I used to feel a little bit embarrassed when people went into the hall but most people were fascinated by the collection, even the medics who came to look after Kevin when he was ill.
"It makes me smile now to think of Kevin smuggling those pieces into the loft. I found out his son, James, helped him lift them in.
"The time feels right to part with them now but I am not letting everything go."
The items will by sold by Hansons Auctioneers at Bishton Hall, Staffs., where they are expected to fetch in excess of £10,000 on February 28.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons, said: "Kevin's collection is quite extraordinary with examples dating back to the 1860s.
"Some people may find it a little bizarre but you have to put taxidermy into its historical context.
"In Edwardian and Victorian times people had a deep fascination with natural history, just as we do today."
Kevin passed away at the age of 69 in August last year. His life was taken by sarcoma, a type of cancer that starts in tissues like bone or muscle.
A donation from the proceeds of the sale of his collection will go to Sarcoma UK.
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