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Artist turns house into Burberry shrine

A Norwegian artist has turned his house into a shrine to Burberry by painting it in the distinctive tartan pattern synonymous with the fashion label.

Jens Werner spent thousands of pounds covering the building in the trademark black, tan and red pattern known as the Haymarket check or the Burberry classic check.

The 33-year-old decided to turn his home, a former public lavatory building in Larvik, Norway, into a "gathering place for happy people".

But it is not the first example of a fashion label-themed home that has cause widespread ridicule of its owners.

In May this year former Manchester United footballer Philip Neville sold his Versace-themed home for almost £1.5 million below its initial asking price.

The Lancashire mansion, which the Everton midfielder and his wife Julie bought a decade ago for £600,000, was first put on the market a year before at £4 million.

The footballer did a photo-shoot in a bid to attract buyers but instead it only attracted ridicule for its gold-panelled ceilings and monogrammed gates and carpets bearing his 'n' hers initials.

The Grade II listed building was built in the 18th century and sits on nine acres of grounds near Burnley.

The attention it attracted failed to generate any legitimate interest initially, and the Nevilles were forced to reduce the price to £3.5 million just six months later.

But the house eventually sold to local businessman Matthew Greensmith for £2.6 million in cash.