Tim Burton’s parents bricked up his windows as a child

Movie maker Tim Burton has revealed that his parents bricked up his windows as a child.

The eccentric director - whose hit films include 'Edward Scissorhands, 'The Corpse Bride', 'Big Fish' and 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' - had to climb up to look at the world through a tiny slit as a young boy.

The 49-year-old told Australia's The Age newspaper: "I had two windows that looked out to the lawn. For some reason my parents walled them up and gave me this little slit window that I had to climb up on my desk to see out of. To this day I never asked them why."

Tim and his partner Helena Bonham Carter now live in separate, adjoining terraced houses in north London with their two children, four-year-old Billy and a one-month-old daughter they are yet to name.

Helena, 41, previously revealed: "His side is messier and decorated with props from the films. My side is cutesy, Beatrix Potter, which is fine for him to visit but there's no way he could live in it. He thinks his side is James Bond."

Their son Billy's bedroom is in Tim's house.

Helena said: "I have the kitchen and a fire so we'll watch TV in my place.

"There is no normality in life. Having two houses means that we can get out of each other's hair - which, let's face it, we've both got a lot of!"

By Owen Williams, Jan 26 2008 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy