IT was built as a barrack for soldiers in the Second World War but somehow became a stylish home. Now it is on the market for just under half a million pounds.

Until six years ago, the old Nissen hut that sat at the back of Paul and Ann Lewis' family garden in Old Netley had been used as a workshop for storing cars.

When the couple decided it was time to move they failed to find anywhere that would capture their imagination and chose to build their own home out of the Second World War relic.

"We felt like a challenge," said Ann. "We decided we wanted to move as our children were getting older but couldn't find anything.

"Then we realised we had the ideal opportunity in our very own garden."

After an 18 month renovation that saw the Nissen hut completely refurbished from an ageing metal half-cylinder shed to a unique family home, the couple, who have two grown up daughters, Samantha, and Emma, and a young grandson called Ben, sold their house and moved into the old barracks.

"We always wanted something we could take out and make our own, and we don't know of it being done anywhere else," said Ann, a customer research analyst who has lived with her retired husband Paul at the property in Portsmouth Road, Old Netley, for more than 20 years.

During the planning process of building their home the family had to stick to the original design of the Nissen hut with its curving frame and roof of corrugated metal, right down to the smallest details.

"We could replace the materials for new ones but everything had to be calculated in imperial units," said Paul.

"The glazier even had to custom make the windows with a template and said he lost sleep on coming up with a way that he could do it."

During the war the Nissen hut would house soldiers who used the Grange Road gunnery and to keep with the history of the building the Lewis family named their new home Gunners Keep, and were required to keep the same structure and size of the hut for their home. The family are well known for their unique home which was first featured in the Daily Echo as work started on the hut in 1999.

They were also the subject of a television documentary, which sparked interest in the property from the grandson of Peter Norman Nissen, who first designed the barracks for the British Army.

"He sent us a couple of letters and said he enjoyed seeing what we had done to the hut," said Paul.

After six years in the building, which has an open plan lounge, kitchen and dining room and two bedrooms, Ann, 55, and Paul, 57, are leaving their custom made home, which includes a completely redesigned garden and patio area.

"I get bored easily and I think we are both ready for a new challenge," said Ann, who confessed she is now itching to find another original property that they can make their own. Gunners Keep is now for sale with estate agent Savills with a guide price of £425,000.