Two female mannequins catching eye of motorists on A140

This will put a smile on your face.

Motorists on the A140 near Cromer have been forced to do a double take after a mannequin appeared on the side of the road.

Firstly, it was naked, but now it's got a summery top on and a cap. There's also a vase with flowers on a table next to it.

The female mannequin has also now be joined by a playmate. This other female mannequin has just got a top on.

It's the work of David Alston, one of the four brothers that own Alby Crafts and Gardens.

The mannequins are part of a giant triangular sculpture in a field, which they own.

The ex-teacher said: 'Hopefully, it will give people a smile on their way to work. I quite like the fact that it's so colourful.

'It's just a little piece of land that I planted with hydrangeas we took out of the garden. I planted it with wildflowers.'

The mannequin was in one of their workshops gathering dust.

He added: 'She was then in the skip, ready to be thrown out, but I took her out. She was in the barn for a while and then in the skip again.

'I thought she looked a bit grubby so I got the spray paint out. The green paint did not really work, so I sprayed her with black paint and then varnished her. I then had to find a home for her, a reason for being, otherwise she'd be back in the skip.

'She was naked in the field to start with, then I put a top on her. I've called her Samantha after a character in a book.

'It's like animals, once you give them a name, you start caring for them. I've not decided whether to dress her up in other clothes yet.

'The other mannequin was bought by a friend of mine at Aylsham sale yard. She took a tumble and was lying down but she's now standing up again. Her name's Faith. '

Mr Alston wants to hold an event at Alby Crafts to give people the chance to construct a permanent structure for the two mannequins using 20 bamboo sticks, but has yet to pick a date for it.