TEN hand-painted gnomes have been taken from a garden in Priory, Wellington, writes Barry Knott.

Maurice, 85, and Mary Webber 74, who have been married more than 50 years, woke up on Friday morning to find their front gate open and the gnomes on their lawn missing.

“We think they were stolen between three and seven o’clock this morning,” said Maurice, brother of the late Frank Webber, a local historian.

“The gnomes were hand-painted by Mary. We have collected them over the years and some of them are presents and of sentimental value.

“Judging by the marks on the lawn it looks as though more than one person was involved.

“We have told the police but because there are no witnesses or cameras there is little chance of catching the culprits. I really don’t know what they get out of doing this.”