Man forced to paint swimsuits on naked lawn gnomes

[gradysfalcon]

BARNSLEY, England (Reuters) - A Barnsley man has covered up his lewd garden gnomes with painted-on swimwear after police warned him he faced arrest for causing public offence.



While most garden gnomes fish or enact scenes of bucolic tranquillity, ex-army sergeant Tony Watson's models in this northern English town bared their breasts and buttocks, prompting complaints from the public.


"It is an offence to display something that is insulting or likely to cause distress," a police spokeswoman said on Wednesday.


"Although some people view the gnomes as a bit of harmless fun, we have to take complaints from members of the public seriously."


One of the gnomes now sports a polka-dot bikini, said local resident John Threlkeld, who passes the gnomes every day on his way to work.


"Tony used filler and paint to cover them up," he said.