Disney-obsessed man, 25, has spent THOUSANDS on his collection of over 50 princess dolls

A MAN who is obsessed with Disney princesses has spent THOUSANDS on his collection of DOLLS.

Nick Theodoulou has splashed out more than £3,000 on the cartoon models - but he believes they are worth every penny.

The 25-year-old – who developed an obsession with Belle after seeing Beauty and the Beast at the age of four - displays his collection in his bedroom and keeps most of the dolls in their boxes so that they are pristine condition.

He said: "Disney has always been the main passion for me and Belle is my favourite character.

"I love the way the dolls capture their characters and bring them to life.

"It's something that I enjoy spending money on and it means something to me, so the value doesn't matter."

Nick has loved Disney since he was a child when he was mesmerised by Beauty and the Beast.

He said that Belle captured him because her story was the perfect balance between a classic and modern tale.

The social media executive from London said: "She was a heroine and she looked different to the rest of the Disney princesses.

"She was not the typical blonde and I think she was the smart one."

At the age of 12, Nick began to collect Disney pins, little badges that can be attached to clothes, bags or for trading or display.

In 2009, he bought himself his first doll – a 17inch limited edition Belle worth £50.

"I saw how detailed and gorgeous it was and started looking into the other ones," he said.

"Now I have about 50 of the limited edition dolls, including 12 Belles.

"They are worth more than I have spent now I'm sure, but I can't sell them, I'm too attached. It's not great for my bank balance but it's worth it."

As well as buying from the Disney store to Nick is also part of Facebook groups where collectors sell them and he checks eBay to see what is available.

For his 24th birthday, Nick fulfilled his childhood dream of visiting Disneyland Paris.

Although he didn't get the chance to meet his favourite princesses, he caught a glimpse of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.

"It was still an amazing experience," he said. "When they say it's the most magical place on earth, it really is."

Nick said he gets a lot of people asking why he buys dolls but has also inspired others to begin collecting.

"A lot of friends who are into Disney have been inspired by my collections and now have their own.

"There are a lot of Disney fans around the world on Facebook groups and Instagram which shed light that a lot of guys can collect dolls too, anyone can.

"I have even seen a lot of couples that collect together.

"It's always been a solo venture for me though.

"A lot of people see monetary value in the dolls too but it's not about that for me."