STUFFED animals and human skulls might not be top of your shopping list, but one creative entrepreneur is cashing in on the morbid curiosities of people all around the world.

The Fifth Corner Curiosity Shop, owned by Henry Scragg, is tucked away in the village of Rettendon.

One of his most precious items, the real-life shrunken head of a man, has this week sold for £12,500.

The 32-year-old maintains the ‘red market’ - or trading of human parts - is ethically sound.

He said: “I always knew I was a bit different as a child, but I was a follower and did what other kids did until I became a bit older.

“I’m a creative, and creative people often suffer from depression, and I think the industry appealed to that morbid curiosity.

“I believe we all have that morbid side, you just have to look at the kind of films we watch, the way people slow down to look at a car accident.

“Do I think what I sell is over the top? No not all.”

He bought his first collection of real human skulls online five years ago.

Since then, he has stocked up an Aladdin’s cave of taxidermy, fossilised insects and mummified animal genitalia.

Mr Scragg, who is a vegetarian, said: “When I first got the skulls home it felt weird, because they were real. I had these 12 people staring at me.

“I sell a skull for £415, and buyers range from museums, artists, other dealers, or students studying a particular subject.”

Famous people from around the world have bought items from Mr Scragg’s collection. He is keeping tight lipped on their identity - but did reveal a well-known Essex couple are among his customers.

He labelled his business – which also sells dead hawk moths and gas masks - ethical because his subjects are already dead.

He added: “I never know who the skulls belonged to, they’re never under 100-years-old and I only buy from reputable dealers.

“I’ll never buy parts of animals from abroad. Sometimes they would have been hunted for the sole purpose of being sold, that’s not ethical.”

He told the Echo he has received hate mail, but puts it down to people being “threatened by what they don’t understand.”

Mr Scragg, who shares the Maltings Lane shop shop with artist and partner Grace Albon, 32, said he’s glad two-year-old daughter Ivy is growing up around the curiosity.

He said: “I think it will make Ivy much more understanding about life and death.”