MINI ATTRACTION
Grandad’s railway village is popular stop for tourists
AGRANDAD built a miniature village and railway in his back garden – and it’s so popular tourists from across the world come to see it. Pensioner Teifion Morris Ifans, 76, started collecting trains 10 years ago after his children bought him a toy set for Christmas.
Since then he has painstakingly built a miniature village in his back garden in Llanychaer, Pembrokeshire, complete with houses, people, shops, a church and even cable cars and a circus.
Around 20 trains run on the tracks surrounded by nearly 40 models and 30 tiny buildings.
It’s become a landmark on several bus tours who drop groups of tourists off to enjoy the model village.
Dad-of-two Teifion said: “We let people in the garden to look around. We don’t mind.
“We get a lot of people stopping by to have a look at the garden – people from as far afield as China, Singapore and South America have visited the garden.
“I started the collection about 10 years ago when my son and daughter bought me a toy train and track as a Christmas present.
“And from then on we’ve been adding to it over the years. I really love playing with the trains with my grandchildren.
“It’s become an obsession to be honest. I’m a bit of a collector if there is such a thing. I’m a bit of an addict.
“I wouldn’t like to think how much money I have spent on it over the e years.
“I gave up smoking and of course I haven’t saved any money – it’s all l gone on the trains.”
Teifion credits his family, and his s wife in particular, with helping him m to create his quirky garden.
He said: “I wouldn’t be able to do it t without them. I already have a supportive wife who has helped me especially with my health.”
■ The garden will feature on new S4C series Pobl a’u Gerddi (People and Their Gardens), which starts tonight at 8pm.