A gnome with no home is being looked after by police in Harwich.
The ceramic figurine was found in a Dovercourt garden carrying a note that said "Don't send me back there, they hurt us."
He was handed in to Harwich police station, where officers have called him Fred and temporarily adopted him.
Sgt Peter Wood, of Harwich police, said he had to look at the date on his watch to check it was not an April Fool's joke.
He said: "A man found him in the front garden of a house in King George's Avenue and then brought him in to us.
"We are very concerned about Fred's welfare and there is probably a family somewhere that is being mistreated and we would like to find out who owns them. "
The gnome is wearing red trousers, brown boots, a green jacket, red hat and is holding a spade and leaning on a mushroom.
Published Friday April 9, 2004
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