A GROUP of residents spent more than an hour making strange shapes in from of bemused onlookers in a Swindon park this weekend.

The morning martial arts session was Swindon’s contribution to world Tai Chi Day.

It saw 18 practitioners of Tai Chi - which translates as supreme ultimate boxing - gather under the guidance of instructor Graham Pritchard, and move their arms and bodies in synchrony in Old Town Gardens.

Mr Pritchard, 51, from Exeter Street in the Railway Village, said: “It was the 13th annual world Tai Chi Day, where people in 60 nations get together in parks and public places to publicly practice Tai Chi.

“It started off with just a few people and has snowballed, without any exaggeration, into millions and millions of people worldwide.

“We had a small group of people watching. They tend to stop, look a little bemused, and take some pictures. Hopefully we’ll be there again next year, all being well.

“It’s just a beautiful location for it.”

Anyone interested in joining Mr Pritchard’s martial arts group can contact him on 07855 977904.