Police replace elderly couple's stolen garden gnome

Police have bought replacement garden gnomes for an elderly couple after theirs was stolen and damaged.

A suspected thief was caught on camera falling through a fence after struggling to pick up the two foot-high gnome.

Footage shows the man losing his balance and crashing straight through a nearby trellis, before stumbling away.

It happened in Weekley Glebe Road, Kettering at about 4.45am on Sunday 1 July.

The gnome, which had a red hat and blue jacket, was later found destroyed outside a nearby block of flats.

Police are still searching for the man in the CCTV footage. No one has been arrested in connection with the theft.

Officers bought the replacement gnomes for the couple in their spare time.

Northamptonshire Police posted on their Facebook page: