Dummy run for original lager louts

Cheers . . . the dummies made from beer cans attract the attention of Mr Timms’s dog

A DOG walker was surprised when he saw what looked like a gang of youths but was in fact dummies made from beer cans sat on a park bench.

Tim Timms, of Prospect Drive, Failsworth, was taking his Springer Spaniel out for a stroll on the morning of New Year’s Eve when he came across three lifelike dummies in his local park.

The dummies, made from used beer cans, were on a bench in Brookdale Park, Newton Heath, dressed in tracksuit bottoms, hooded jackets and caps.

The lifelike creations, each posing with a beer can in hand, appear to be a light-hearted prank as the park often attracts gangs of youths who leave litter, mainly beer cans, scattered around the park’s benches.

The creator of the dummies is unknown.

Ann Williams, a Manchester City Council park ranger, said: “This is the first I’ve heard of the dummies, and as far as I know it’s nothing to do with the council.

“It might be some kind of art project from one of the local colleges but we will look into it and find out if they are in any other Manchester’s parks.”

Mr Timms, who visits the park regularly, said: “The dummies were very well made, and it looks like a lot of time has gone into it.”

He added: “It might be part of a gang-busting plan set up by the locals. Once it gets dark you can guarantee that groups of yobs will appear in the park making noise, vandalising and littering.

“These beer dummies might scare them off, hopefully.”