Meet the 'leopard skin nan' from King's Lynn in Norfolk

For the Norfolk pensioner is so obsessed with leopard skin, she has filled her home and her wardrobe with it.

Ira sports a leopard skin unbrella - which goes with her leopard skin coat, dress and shoes (Image: Chris Bishop)

It started back in the swinging 60s when Ira, now 76, bought a scarf in the distinctive spotted pattern on a shopping trip to London's Oxford Street, while she was training to be a hairdresser in the capital. 

"I think it was 1964 or 1965," she said. "It was just instinct. Then I got a leopard skin coat.

Ira Bowman pours a cuppa from her leopard skin teapot (Image: Chris Bishop)

Ira with her favourite bag - leopard skin, of course (Image: Chris Bishop)

"Then it went on to clothes, shoes, handbags - just about everything. I bought another coat for £40 from Roman on the High Street the other day - I'm not OCD or whatever you call it, that's just how it is.

"I just love leopard skin, that's how I've been all my life. I just think it's classy."

READ MORE: Marketing boss spreads 'leopard skin love'

At night, Ira even snuggles down under leopard skin covers (Image: Chris Bishop)

leopard skin nan Ira Bowman with her family (from left, clockwise) granddaughter Poppy Smalley, eldest daughter Justine Stainsby, granddaughter Betsy Stainsby and great-granddaughter Minnie Smalley (Image: Chris Bishop)

As well as clothes and more shoes than you can shake a leopard's tail at, Ira brews her tea in a leopard skin teapot, before pouring it into leopard skin mugs at her home in King's Lynn.

There are leopard skin vases, lampshades and rugs, while at night she snuggles down under her favourite pattern.

Her love of leopard skin has also rubbed off on family, who say they are never at a loss as to what to get Ira when it comes to Christmas and birthdays.

Ira Bowman, with her granddaughter Betsy Stainsby (Image: Chris Bishop)

Granddaughter Betsy Stainsby, 23, turned her nan into an online sensation when a video tour of her bungalow she posted online went viral, with more than 160,000 views.

Betsy, who has inherited Ira's love of leopard skin, said: "Every time I wear leopard print, it's an ode to Nan."

Her mother Justine, Ira's eldest daughter, 53, added: "I just grew up with it, I thought it was normal.

Ira with her great-granddaughter Minnie Smalley (Image: Chris Bishop)

"We always know what to buy mum for her birthday and at Christmas." 

Ira, whose 10-month-old great-granddaughter Minnie Smalley is already sporting the family colours, has even planned a leopard skin funeral.

"When I die and have a funeral, I don't want any black or any other colour, only leopard skin," said the former hairdresser, who also worked with special needs children before she retired. "I will be wearing leopard skin in the box as well."