YOU have heard the one about the Owl and the Pussycat and the Hare and the Tortoise. but have you heard about the Irish leprechaun and the iguana who have gone off with a large snail and tortoise in tow?
Unfortunately, it does not appear that the four have packed their bags for some exotic holiday paradise – more a case that they have been kidnapped by thieves and goodness knows where they will end up.
Owner Heather Jeffery believes the garden ornaments may well finish huddled together at some car boot sale.
The support worker for adults with learning disabilities discovered they had gone when she went into her garden at Barn Cottage, Ford Farm, Chudleigh Knighton, on Sunday morning. At first, she thought somebody was messing around and had hidden them.
'I asked my husband Dave if he had moved the iguana. He said he had not seen it and then I discovered the others were missing.
'All the ornaments, which are made of resin, disappeared on Friday or Saturday evening and I understand several hanging baskets were stolen in the village,' she said.
Mrs Jeffery said she was gutted when she realised the leprechaun was gone.
'It was of sentimental value because it was bought by Dave.
'Originally the garden was a tip and we have worked really hard and just finished giving it a complete makeover.
'It is a shame when something like this happens. The garden is looking really nice and the four ornaments were unusual and added a bit of humour,' she said.
They were valued at more than £100.
Now she has chained up a patio set and is going to instal cameras to keep a watch on the garden.
Chudleigh police are appealing to anyone seen walking off with a leprechaun, or anyone who has any information about the theft, to contact them.