Imaginative Mary Simpson is never hurt when her artwork is described as rubbish - because that is exactly what it is.

Old greenhouses, plant pots, dustbins and anything else thrown out by her neighbours in Highcliff Drive, Wickford, is turned into attractive garden ornaments.

Her half-acre front lawn is a local attraction, with children dragging their parents along for a look.

Just this week, a group of nearby girl guides extended one of their outings to include a picnic in the famous garden.

Mrs Simpson, in her fifties, throws the statues together for her own enjoyment - and turns down any offers of business.

She once turned away a young boy whose father was eager to buy the pieces for his own yard.

Mrs Simpson said: "This is my hobby and I love it. It would take that enjoyment away if I turned it into a business. I have had television companies interested in my work. They have got me on file and are planning to include me in a programme soon."

Mrs Simpson's collection includes a teddy bears' picnic, the Flowerpot Men and characters from the Wind in the Willows.

Mrs Simpson said: "I have also got a wishing well made of hundreds of Victorian pennies. One child comes along every week to make a wish!

"I have just found some Japanese figures so I am about to start work on a big palace for them."

Here's one I made earlier - Mary shows off some of her creative gardening

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.