SOMEBODY call Sherlock Gnomes! Do you know the answer behind the mystery of Ivybridge's newest residents?

On a wet, windy Monday night, Marcela Telehanicova of Bowdens Park was closing her curtains when – to her huge surprise – she found she was facing an invading army of 107 gnomes.

Marcela quickly opened her front door to see the garden ornaments standing three-abreast, covering the pathway up to her house.

Police have now taken the gnomes into custody – but they are still trying to find out whether they are stolen.

Marcela said: 'It has been quite eventful.

'They just appeared on my doorstep. I was closing the curtains and saw them.

'It was really entertaining, I was in hysterics.

'It's the most bizarre and funniest thing that has ever happened to me.

'I really want to know who did it, not because I want to have a go at them or anything. I'm just so curious.'

'It was a really wet and windy night, it must have taken them ages in the wind and rain to line them up.

'I found it really funny and I'm still laughing about it now, I just couldn't believe it. I opened my door and thought "what the hell?".

'I shared it on Facebook and friends texted me asking if they could see them. They found it so funny.'

Marcela reported the arrival to the police, suspecting the gnomes might have been stolen from a garden centre.

'I had to report it to the police. It's not just a handful. It was over 100 gnomes. I thought they might have been missing,' she said.

'There were a few copies and they had barcodes on the base.

'When I called the police I said "This is really bizarre, I'm not lying but there are over a hundred gnomes outside my house". They couldn't believe it.'

Marcela admitted that although the gnomes are 'quite freaky looking' she did grow fond of them. She said: 'They're not the normal gnomes with red hats, they are quite freaky looking.

'They've gone now but I was quite fond of them for the two days I had them. the police say I can have them back if no one claims them within 28 days. My neighbour suggested I could sell them for charity.'

The guests arrived in the town sometime between 9.30pm on Monday June 1 and 1.30am on June 2.

Police say they have contacted Endsleigh Garden Centre but no gnomes have been reported missing.

A spokeswoman said: 'Someone has taken quite a bit of time and effort to place them there. We are trying to identify where these gnomes have come from. We are not sure whether it's a prank or whether they are stolen.

'It is a bit of a mystery. They are currently classed as found property'

Anyone with information should contact the police on 101 quoting police log number 27 of June 2.