A MAN with a collection of 70 lifelike baby dolls says it's the closest he'll ever get to being a dad.

       Tim Foers said he's always wanted to be a father figure, but his dreams of being a dad are dashed because he has Cerebral Palsy.

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       Tim with one of the dolls, named Joshua Credit: MEN Media

       The wheelchair-bound doll collector from Rotherham, South Yorks, also hit out at people who branded him "creepy" for the assortment of lifelike toys.

       In a video posted to his website, Tim explains his love of dolls began when he was a youngster.

       He says: "When I was younger I didn't like anything that went 'bang,' fireworks, gunshots.

       "So while all the boys were playing cops and robbers, I was playing with dolls."

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       He adds: "I've always wanted to be a parent, but because of my disability I will never be able to have my own children."

       Instead Tim turned to doll collecting, amassing 70 Reborn dolls since 2017.

       Referring to the dolls as his "babies," he says: "I just want the world to know that it's okay for men to collect reborn dolls.

       "There are too many idiots out there, I know this because I have been bullied for collecting Reborn."

       According to Yorkshire Live, Tim has been branded a "pervert" for his collection by people who suggested he is sexually attracted to the dolls.

       He posted to a local Facebook page that people "shouldn't be alarmed" if they see him out and about, and pleaded with people not to "judge" him.

       He added: "Bullying is wrong and I am fighting hard to show the bullies the errors of their ways."

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       Tim said he dreams of being a dad Credit: MEN Media

       I was devastated when my kids chose to live with their dad so I replaced them with 9 dolls