A York shopkeeper has had to find a new 'gnome' for seven small friends of his - on pain of prosecution.

Stuart Sykes, who runs Blue Moon Trading, in Goodramgate, put seven ornamental garden gnomes outside his shop a month ago.

He said they get "lonely" inside the shop, and when they are inside he only sells one every fortnight. After putting them on the street though, three or four were being snapped up every week, Stuart says. And he said they were proving really popular with passers-by. "People couldn't stop laughing when they saw them," he said.

But ten days ago, he was contacted by City of York Council and given two weeks to move them.

They said the gnomes were causing an obstruction and had to go.

And yesterday, Stuart was left with no choice when a team of council officials turned up at his shop. They said if he didn't move them, they would.

Stuart said: "It was a classic case of the bureaucrats showing they are totally devoid of humour. It's not like there aren't other things on the pavements - there are 'A' boards, statues outside shops, you name it. It is purely because they are gnomes. We were victimised because you aren't allowed any humour inside the city walls."

However, a City of York Council spokeswoman said a complaint had been received about the gnomes.

"When that happens, we have to follow it up. This applies to all premises in all areas of the city and we are allowed to ask people to remove obstructions. "If there are obstructions on other areas of Goodramgate they will be investigated as well."

Updated: 10:43 Thursday, August 16, 2001