Cleaning experts have been roped in to help a hoarder in Merseyside, whose home had become so cluttered he was unable to use his kitchen or bathroom for four years.
Paul, 72, appeared on last night's episode of Channel 5 show Hoarders, which saw hoard-clearing specialist George brought in to sort out the home.
Viewers watched on as the two de-cluttered the house, which was filled with bittersweet memories for Paul, whose mother bought the property 35 years ago for £23,000.
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"This is really sad," one tweeted.
His mother was able to maintain a tidy home after Paul's father died, but a few years after she passed away in 1995, her devoted son found himself collecting items like the ones she used to own.
Over time, the 'obsession' exacerbated, and eventually Paul was surrounded by clutter - every room filled with piles up to 6ft tall, having started collecting books and clothes before branching out into antiques, Roman artefacts and weaponry.
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At one point, the hoarding became so severe that Paul had to eat out every day as he had no access to the kitchen. He also had to shower at a café in town because his bathroom was so buried in items.
A few years ago, things grew so bad he had to move in with his friend Simon, whose home he has also began to fill with stuff.
Before the big clear-out, Paul said on the show: "When it's clear, I hope to sell this off, move in full-time with Simon, and go on a few holidays. I haven't been on a holiday for years.
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"This is my life over the last 25 years, encapsulated in a ridiculous obsession. I don't know why I ever thought this lot would become an asset to the house."
Paul said he was concerned about whether or not the building would be able to withstand the weight anymore, and also knew he was being bogged down by the 'mental and physical pressure' on himself - keen to get things sorted so he can sell the house and enjoy retirement.
George, who struggled to get through the front door when he arrived at Paul's house, said the project was 'like no other hoard we've done before'.
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However, over the course of eight days, a team of five were able to empty the home, filling eight skips and throwing away 24 tonnes' worth of rubbish.
They even found a mummified rat among the clutter, with rat droppings also found throughout the property.
Despite wanting to hold on to a few things - which were shipped off to Simon's house - Paul was able to make £1,500 ($1,900) selling off old antique items and Roman artefacts.
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After clearing the home, the team found the weight of the contents had caused the floors to drop as much as eight inches, with walls left extremely damaged due to lack of ventilation.
The home had originally been estimated to be worth £145,000 ($190,000) by an estate agent, but with the structural damage the value dropped by £30,000 ($39,000).
However, in the end Paul was able to sell his home for £141,000 ($187,000), meaning he had a good amount of cash for him to enjoy a happy retirement.
Watch Hoarders on My5 now.
Featured Image Credit: Channel 5Topics: UK News, TV and Film, News