Village ponders gnome mystery

The gnomes arrived on the lawns uninvited

The arrival of 14 uninvited garden gnomes on lawns in a Lincolnshire village has baffled residents.

Pranksters have been blamed for the incident, which happened overnight in the conservation village of Brattleby.

The village's Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator Mike Spencer said he woke on Tuesday morning to see one of the gnomes in his garden.

It was only when he took a walk around the village that he discovered 13 other homes had also suffered a gnome attack.

Posh end

The 59-year-old chairman of Brattleby parish council said: "It is such an odd thing to happen.

"The people down the far end of the village say our end is the posh end and I have a sneaking suspicion it is someone from the other end of the village.

LITTLE MEN

At the moment we don't know whether the gnomes have been bought especially for the prank

Inspector Dick Holmes
Lincolnshire Police

"I absolutely detest gnomes and the majority of people living in the big houses would not want gnomes in their gardens either."

He said he had collected up a number of the little men and hidden them in his garage, but he said most people have taken the joke light-heartedly.

"It has certainly put a smile on everyone's face," he added.

Resident John Spratley said: "It is ridiculous. There is no logical reason for it.

Inspector Dick Holmes of Lincolnshire Police said that there was a serious side to the joke.

"If somebody has been stealing gnomes and distributing them round other people's gardens then they should be aware that they are liable for prosecution," said Inspector Holmes.

"At the moment we don't know whether the gnomes have been bought especially for the prank."