VISITORS to a village pub have taken a new couple to their hearts.

Craig and Penelope, newcomers to the village of Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, sit outside The Crown Inn whenever the pub is open, whatever the weather.

But these regulars are no ordinary couple – they are shop mannequins, bought by the pub’s owner Karl Mainey on eBay for £35 each.

Manager Ken Hardy said: “We found that people were driving past the pub, not realising we were open, and we thought something like this might help people see that we are.

“Craig and Penelope have become a real talking point in the village, and residents have really taken them to their hearts.

“We change their clothes with the seasons, and always keep their drinks topped up – when it rains they even have umbrellas.

“We’ve had a fantastic response, and often people think they are real, until they come up close.

“We’re not certain, but we think they might be trying for a baby so we could be seeing a little pram joining them in the next few months.”

For more details about The Crown Inn, call 01423-322300.