Contest sheds light on the nation’s
wackiest builders

The sheds are included in a list of eight in the final stage of the contest, which saw 1,975 entries from enthusiastic “Sheddies” across the UK.

Almost 14,000 public voters helped whittle down the search for the nation’s best shed for the competition, which is in its seventh year.

The finalists were voted category winner in each of the eight categories – eco shed, garden office, cabin/summerhouse, workshop/studio, unique shed, pub shed, Tardis shed and normal shed.

They will now automatically receive a place in the final, which will be judged by Sarah Beeny, Kevin McCloud, Shed of the Year founder Uncle Wilco and 2012 winner John Plumridge .

The overall winner, who will be announced during Shed Week on July 1, will receive £1,000 courtesy of sponsor Cuprinol.

The final eight include Marcus Shields, from Camden Town, north London, who won the Best Eco Shed title with his brightly coloured, sustainable entry which features a wildflower roof and recycled yogurt carton cladding.

Luke Hollingworth, a retired guerilla artist known as Syd, won the Best Workshop/Studio title with a shed in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, featuring a smiley face optical illusion, a cider bar and full-sized gorilla.

Alex Holland landed the Best Unique Shed award for his Boat Roofed Shed, near Machynlleth in Mid Wales. The shed has a roof that consists of an upturned boat, a gas cooker, sink and sound system used for parties.

The Best Tardis Shed was built by David Lifton, from Chelmsford in Essex, for his Doctor Who fan son Rhys.