Farmer builds 36ft Meerkat sculpture from bales of straw

Proudly looking out over motorists in rural Nantwich, the statue is built on a 6ft base and has lights in its eyes.

Each year, staff at Snugburys Ice Cream Farm, Hurleston, celebrate the summer with a new design.

Director Chris Sadler and his wife Cheryl come up with the ideas and the creations are made by Mike Harper, who builds a steel skeleton which is then stuffed with hay.

Speaking about this year’s design, Mr Harper, 57, said: ‘Everyone loves meerkats, especially my wife, so we thought it would be a good idea.

‘We start planning it in January and then have a big push stuffing it at the end which takes about a month.

‘Mike is an amazing talent and was happy to have a go at building it. People absolutely adore it – it says that it cheers them up, and it doesn’t cost them anything.’