Pint-sized gnomes' mysterious arrival

5:09pm Tuesday 3rd April 2001

THEY are plastic, pint-sized, dressed in the cutest red and white outfits and they are turning up in droves in a quiet suburban Bromley garden.

Nobody on Beechfield Road can explain the mysterious arrival of 12 garden gnomes especially the couple who live at the house where the shenanigans have been taking place.

Keith and Jan Hooper first realised something strange was afoot when their first visitor appeared in November last year.

The mystery midget had a note attached saying: “You call this a rockery Hooper, but we're calling Ground Force.”

It referred to the new rockery prepared by architectural assistant Mr Hooper while his wife was on holiday.

Mr and Mrs Hooper were even more amazed when dozens more gnomes joined the pioneering gnome.

Another of the visitors had a note saying: “You're a nice family to live with please look after me.”

And in an even stranger twist, plastic daffodils, several Father Christmas's, frogs, moles and scarecrows started appearing.

Insurance broker Mrs Hooper said: “I don't even like gnomes, but if this keeps on going on, I suppose I'll grow to like them.

“In fact, I have no plans to get rid of them and I may even incorporate them into my new rockery the children Elliot, 12, and Rachel, nine, love them.

She added: “I have absolutely no idea who's behind this and it's probably costing them the earth.”

“But I won't bear a grudge and when I find out who's done it I might take them out for a drink.”

l If you know who is responsible for the gnomes' migration or if you have any information, call the News Shopper on 01689 885715 or email Mike Addelman with your news.

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