THEY called him the Squirrel Man because when Len Evans made his daily visit to The Meadows all the squirrels came out of the trees as he whistled along the path, writes Alison Stephenson.

The 83-year-old who inspired a new generation of animal lovers has been lovingly remembered with a bench in the park where he spent so much time — and already the squirrels are making themselves at home.

Len walked three miles to visit The Meadows every single day for the last three years of his life and it was not just the squirrels who were pleased to see him — he was held in great affection with everyone he came into contact with, especially the children.

When a collection was set up after Len's death last year by Kerry Small and Dawn Cruze, who run The Kiosk in the park, 90 per cent of the £250 raised was donated by the children.

'We had a collection tin with Len's picture on it and the kids were fantastic — they all wanted to put their pennies in to remember the Squirrel Man as they called him,' said Kerry.

'The children were fascinated watching Len hand feed the squirrels and lots have them have taken to feeding them — they know we have the nuts at the kiosk and they come and ask for them.'

Kerry said she and Dawn took to Len straight away and he used to come and have a cup of coffee with them: 'We were devastated when he died but to see the children feeding the squirrels gives you a lovely warm feeling inside.'

Len's widow Doris, his son Alan and son-in-law Hugh Browning came along to see the bench being installed on Monday.

Mrs Evans said the bench was a very fitting tribute and it was somewhere she could come and feel closer to her husband.

'Len absolutely loved coming to the park to see his friends and the squirrels — I am sure he would be overwhelmed by what everyone has done. It is lovely to think the children have put their pennies in.'

Amateur wildlife photographer Colin Sargent got to know Len by taking numerous pictures of him feeding the squirrels: 'He used to whistle down through the park and all the squirrels would run up to him — Len was like the Pied Piper and it was amazing to see.'