Arrest threat over police gnome

Police have taken a dim view of a man's glowing garden gnome and threatened him with arrest unless he removes it.

The solar-powered policeman figure stands sentinel in the garden of Gordon MacKillop's home in Treovis, near Liskeard.

His neighbour, former policeman John McLean, says the gnome is annoying and upsets buyers viewing his home.



Now police have served Mr MacKillop with a notice for "placing a garden gnome with intent to cause harassment".

Mr MacKillop, 46, was woken in the night by two officers who warned him that the gnome was offensive to his neighbours. He said, "When you hear a knock at the door at quarter to midnight you don't expect to be served with that.

"I was absolutely fuming. I thought there had been an accident in the family."

Mr MacKillop said he bought the gnome to deter criminals, after his motorcycle was stolen from his drive.

"It just happened that it had a police uniform on," he said.