A family-run museum dedicated to Doctor Who and the world of sci-fi may be forced to close because a newly installed Dalek display does not comply with planning regulations.

The Museum of Classic Sci-Fi is home to an entire gallery devoted to Doctor Who and has attracted hundreds of visitors, but the owners of the tourist draw, in the village of Allendale, Northumberland, have been ordered to exterminate a shed that houses a large replica Dalek.

‘Gutted’

Art teacher Neil Cole built the model from scratch with his students at an after-school club and put it on display when the museum opened last October.

He and his wife and co-owner, Lisa are “gutted” after been instruced to remove the shed from their house by 5 February.

The structure, which is not blessed with Tardis-like properties, requires planning permission, which would probably not be granted as it does not fit with the character of the couple’s listed Georgian home.

Dalek will not fit inside home

Ms Cole, 44, said the Dalek would not fit inside their home.

“I didn’t realise we needed planning permission for a shed,” she said.

“If we have to get rid of it [the shed], the fate of the Dalek and the museum is unknown,” Ms Cole added.

Making people smile

The museum welcomes guests three days a week to view costumes from Doctor Who, as well as various Marvel and Thunderbirds memorabilia.

“It’s brought more than 900 people into the village, so many people have said the Dalek makes them smile as they drive up the road,” Ms Cole said.

A spokesman for Northumberland County Council said: “We wish to work with the property owner to resolve this, and we have written to him to advise that this would require planning permission and, due to the listed status of the property, an application is unlikely to be supported.”

Additional reporting by PA