The unassuming terrace house that spawned the myth of the Cottingley Fairies is up for sale.

It was at Cottingley Beck, at the bottom of the garden behind the house in Main Street, where Elsie Wright and her cousin Frances Griffiths faked photographs of fairies dancing in 1917.

The pictures were so convincing that even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, thought they were real.

The story gained worldwide fame and two years ago spawned the movie Fairytale: A True Story, starring Mel Gibson.

Whoever buys the one-bedroom house with two attic rooms -- price £54,500 -- must be prepared for occasional visits from Japanese and American tourists. The house has a 70ft rear garden, leading to the waterfalls where the photographs were taken. But Elsie Wright is not the only well-known figure to have lived there. Others have included artist James Hardaker and herbalist Jimmy Dobson, who had shops in Bingley and Keighley, and grew herbs in the garden.

Paul Wheildon, senior manager with Bradford & Bingley estate agents Renton and Renton, is handling the sale.

Profits from a glossy brochure aimed at people interested in the story of the fairies as well as potential buyers will go to the Keighley-based Handicap-ped Children's Pilgrims Trust, which sends disabled youngsters to Lourdes. Mr Wheildon has written to Mel Gibson, asking him if he is interested in the house. Two years ago the star offered $20,000 for the fairies photos and the cameras used in the hoax. But their owner, Southend collector Geoffrey Crawley, turned him down, selling the artefacts to a T&A-backed appeal. They are now on show at the National Museum of Film, Photography and Television in Bradford. A spokesman for Mel Gibson said he had no comment on the house sale at this stage. Mr Wheildon added: "We thought this was a wonderful opportunity to produce a souvenir brochure, with sales going to charity.

"This is someone's chance to own their private fairyland.

"I was contacted out of the blue by the family of the lady who had been living in the house for over 30 years.

"The house requires some renovation. What you can't put a value on is its fabulous history."

The property's 84-year-old owner declined to comment on life at the house, saying: "I've never said anything about it or wanted any publicity and I'm not going to start now.''