A STRANGER has made the garden of Gazette picture editor Jason Allen his very own gnome from gnome.

Mr Allen was taking his dog for a walk on Tuesday morning when he spotted the new arrival nestling among foliage in his front garden.

Attached to the garden ornament was a note explaining that the gnome's name was Charlton and that it had come to stay for a while in Mr Allen's garden in Hook.

Mr Allen, 35, said: "I thought it was very funny. I have quizzed all my friends but not the neighbours, so it possibly could be one of them, but it was an extremely funny thing to do.

"With the note being laminated and printed, it just looks quite professional and at first I thought it was an advertising stunt."

Maggie Egleton, founder of Gnomeland, in Rhinefield Road, Brockenhurst, Hampshire, said that she had heard stories of gnomes travelling all around the world.

She said: "All sorts of silly things happen to gnomes. This is a classic little story that often happens - it's usually just a prank."