HAVE you lost a shoe during the lockdown?

Your missing footwear could well be in Tracey Bowers’ garden.

The 56-year-old teacher has had all sorts of odd shoes mysteriously turn up in her garden every night for the past two weeks.

Tracey, who lives in Ditchling Road, Brighton, said: “It started with my neighbour first, as shoes started to appear in her garden and so she asked me if my children had lost their shoes.

“But then they started to appear in our garden too.

“It’s very strange. They are in good condition so I would really like to get them back to their owners.”

The Argus: Some of the shoes which have appeared in Tracey's garden in Ditchling RoadSome of the shoes which have appeared in Tracey's garden in Ditchling Road

Tracey has had one or two shoes appear every night for the past fortnight.

She has collected more than 25 odd shoes of all different styles and brands, including trainers, summer sandals and walking boots.

She said: “I’ve had Nike, New Balance and retro Puma trainers, Birkenstock sandals and walking boots.

“You name it – we’ve had it all.

“Some of them are expensive shoes and boots and we’ve had all sizes.”

Tracey has a hunch that the shoe thief is a playful fox, but she has not yet caught one in the act.

She said: “I’m pretty sure it’s foxes, as they’ve been known to take things from gardens – although I’ve lived here 18 years and it’s never happened before.

“I’ve had the odd gardening glove show up but shoes are a new one.

“I think it’s because people have been out in their gardens so much during the lockdown.

“My neighbour thinks it’s a family of foxes which live nearby. We’re just opposite Hollingbury Woods.

“I did try and stay up last night to try and spot a fox bringing the shoes but I didn’t see anything.”

Tracey has been photographing all the odd shoes and posting the pictures in Brighton Facebook groups, in an attempt to reunite them with their rightful owners.

She was amazed to learn that one particular shoe had travelled quite a distance.

Tracey said: “The first one I was able to return came from the bottom of Preston Drove and we’re right up near Varndean Road, so it has been bringing them a long way.

“I just don’t know why they’re bringing them to my garden.

“It’s quite amazing really. The shoes are probably more well-travelled than their owners have been in lockdown.”