A novel ternary phase, SnyNi4Sb12-xSnx, has been characterised exhibiting a wide range of homogeneity (at 250degreesC, 2.4 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 5.6; 0 less than or equal to y less than or equal to 0.31). SnyNi4Sb12-xSnx crystallises in a skutterudite based structure in which Sri atoms are found to occupy both the 24g site randomly sharing with Sb atoms and the 2a position, with an anomalously large isotropic atomic displacement parameter. Eu0.8Ni4Sb5.8Sn6.2, Yb0.6Ni4Sb6.7Sn5.3 and Ni4As9.1Ge2.9 are isotypic skutterudites. Depending on the particular composition, metallic as well as semiconducting behaviour was observed. Eu containing compounds exhibit long range magnetic order arising from the Eu2+ ground state.