A BEDRAGGLED M5 landmark has been given a new lease of life.
Humphrey the camel, who has been overlooking the northbound section of the motorway between North Petherton and Bridgwater for almost 40 years, has been restored to his former glory.
He had begun to look sorry for itself and was in desperate need of a makeover.
Which is when carnivalite and BBC Somerset radio presented Andy Bennet came to the rescue.
Humphrey, who is made out of an old oil drum and bits of chicken wire, was built at the farm in Bridgwater where he still stands and which is owned by Terry and Lorraine Hooper.
The camel was originally made by Terry in 1980 for a Bridgwater Young Farmers entry in Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival.
Ever since he has continued to entertain people as they drive up the M5.
Andy Bennett, a member of Mendip Vale Carnival Club, who lives in Burnham-on-Sea, said: “When I was a kid, the M5 camel was the landmark to say you were near home.
"Long before The Willow Man and the Morrisons factory, it was always the M5 camel you looked out for.
“I interviewed Lorraine about Humphrey back in November for one of my radio shows, and when she said that they were looking for someone to repair him and fix him up, I just couldn’t resist.
"Without having a carnival to do in November, I thought this would keep my hand in at building stuff.
"The M5 camel has always been an unofficial landmark of Somerset, and hopefully this will keep him going a bit longer.”
Lorraine said: “It’s great to get him back all painted up and repaired.
"We are hoping to put him out in time for Christmas.
"He has so many fans. We get regular fan mail, and each year he even gets Christmas cards.
“When Terry made him all those years ago, he never thought he would still be here and be so well-known nearly 40 years later.
"We often decorate him depending what time of year it is, so he wears a Christmas hat at Christmas, and a sun hat in the summer time.”
Humphrey has built quite a following and reputation over the years.
Terry Wogan used to talk about him regularly on BBC Radio 2 traffic reports.
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