A FAMILY of musical meerkats has been spotted playing gigs at a secret location in the Railway Village.

The critters belong to 75-year-old craftsman Colin Woodward, who has transformed his front garden into a unique visitor attraction. The meerkats are, however, made of plastic. But if they were real they’d be the hardest rocking meerkats in Swindon.

For most of his life, Colin has been collecting garden ornaments of various shapes and sizes. And after receiving a host of compliments about his Oxford Street garden, he decided to put them on display – with elaborate themes – and charge people to see them, with all proceeds going to charity.

In around two years, Colin has managed to raise more than £1,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Colin, who has lived in Swindon all his life, said: “I like meerkats. I like watching them on TV, and the people who walk past my garden seem to like them as well.

“The meerkats are made from plastic and come fully made. When they are displayed in the garden, I want them to look realistic.”

Colin’s substantial collection of gnomes and meerkats have been laid out in various imaginative ways. One collection of meerkats is organised as if playing a rock concert on stage with instruments.

Another collection has been inspired by a Disney classic and involves Snow White Meerkat and the Seven Meerkat Dwarfs.

“I have always been interested in working with my hands,” said Colin, who also builds models out of matchsticks. He is currently working on a matchstick replica of the town hall building.

“In the summer I’m out in the garden with the meerkats and in the winter I sit inside and build things out of matchsticks. Some nights I could be up until 4am if I get carried away.

“When people come along it and see them it draws interest. They walk by and a lot of them ask to take a photograph. Then more people come after seeing the photographs because they want to see the meerkats for themselves.”

Colin and a few neighbours have just finished planting some daffodils in a community space in the Railway Village, which Colin feels compliment his meerkats nicely.

He welcomes everyone to come and look at his garden at 6 Oxford Street – as long as they leave a small donation for Cancer Research UK in his red bucket.