GENTLEMAN of the road Michael Ransley caused a bit of stir when he stopped off in Wellington with his horse and wagon.

He played the bagpipes outside the Co-Op in High Street on Friday and well-wishers deposited notes and coins on a sack on the pavement – along with bags of carrots and apples for his ten-year-old horse Tarateeno.

They have travelled down from Scotland over the last three months on the way to Cornwall.

Michael has lived on the road for the last 20 years, clocking up about 2,000 miles a year, but this was his first visit to Wellington in four years.

He has also travelled a lot in France, going as far as the Mediterranean coast.

He said: “My lifestyle is relaxing and brings a lot of joy. I always enjoy piping in Wellington – the people are very kind.

“To quote the author Laurie Lee, of Cider With Rosie fame: ‘in a car you see as much as a dog in a ditch’.”