IS IT a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Superman - a 14ft version of the superhero that forms part of a couple's striking new statue collection in the front garden of their Weymouth home.

Dennis and Jackie Spurr have transformed their garden with more than 30 statues of superheroes, astronauts, aliens and monkeys.

The pair, both aged 67, were heartbroken when their beloved French Bulldog, Frank, died back in June and so decided to create 'Frank's Garden' in his memory to spread joy to the neighbourhood and raise money for charity.

Dennis, owner of The Fantastic Sausage Factory in Weymouth, said: "When Frank died I started rearranging the front garden and getting in some more figures and everyone was beginning to like it so I kept adding to it.

"In these rotten times if I can make people smile it is great. We've had so many kids up here taking pictures and people get to enjoy it when they walk or drive past.

"It has been such a fun thing to do and I've had great fun creating it."

The couple are also using the opportunity to raise money for the Phoenix Trust, a dog rehoming charity, which relies solely on donations.

Jackie, a retired consultant nurse, said: "The Phoenix Trust rehome French Bulldogs and they have been inundated with people who bought dogs in lockdown and cannot cope with them so we thought that we could try and help them.

"Mainly the garden is about Frank though. Every time I look at it I think of that little boy. We've got lots of superheroes in the garden and Frank was a superhero."

The pair plan to keep the figures up until the New Year. They hope to dress the statues up in festive clothes at Halloween and Christmas with the help of their nine-year-old neighbour Rosie who has been taken on as Dennis's apprentice.

Jackie added: "This has been such a horrible year and people feel so disengaged with lots of things and if people are smiling then we are doing something right with Frank's memory."