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They're a shadowy group who creep round people's gardens and when they'll strike next, nobody gnomes.

These extremists have kidnapped thousands, sent scary ransom notes and, in one disturbing case, 11 hostages were found dead in a suspicious "mass suicide".

They are the Gnome Liberation Front, whose mission is to "free them from their small garden prisons".

The Mirror revealed yesterday how Murphy the gnome was nabbed from Eve Stuart-Kelso's garden in Gloucester, only to turn up safe and sound seven months later with holiday snaps from 11 different countries.

But Murphy was one of the lucky ones. Many never make it back.

And it's not just gnome-lovers in Britain who are being targeted.

The GLF is an outfit that can strike anywhere, at any time - and they seem to be particularly active in France.

In 1997 a court in northern France handed three GLF ringleaders a suspended sentence and fines for the theft of over 150 garden gnomes.

The men, aged between 18 and 21, were found with stolen gnomes in the boots of their car and carrying GLF pamphlets.

And in a sickening twist, 11 gnomes were found strung up, hanging by their necks under a bridge in the city of Briey in 1998.

A note nearby read: "When you read these few words we will no longer be part of your selfish world, where we serve merely as pretty decoration." Which just goes to show that gnome news isn't always good news.

In June a 53-year-old man was arrested in Brittany after 170 of the little fellas were found in his garden.

Among hundreds stolen in the past two years was a batch discovered along the edge of a swimming pool in Limoges. A letter had been sent to the owners, saying: "Because of the heatwave, we wanted to get some air."

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, a 14in gnome was stolen from a home in Morgantown, West Virginia.

A few days later, the owner received a mugshot and a letter reading: "Please bail me out of jail uncle Allen. Send money to the PA state penitentiary. Gnomey.

"P.S. Sorry, I left home but I wanted to see the world and now I'm in trouble."

The clandestine GLF did not respond to emails but, like many terror organisations, they have inspired other gnome-nappers to follow in their footsteps.

One such group, www.freethegnomes.com, was more forthcoming when we got in touch.

A reply came from an American using the gnomic alias Sprky Thdvl. He says there are still plenty of people in Britain only too eager to raid gardens and "free" the gnomes.

He told us: "Yes I do realise that gnome liberation is a bit of a pastime on your side of the pond, a bit like baseball or toilet papering houses on Halloween and graffiti are here I suppose."

The "pastime" has certainly affected Di and Jim McMahon.

The couple, from Exmouth, Dorset, put out a gnome alert only last month after their much-loved ornament was stolen from the their front doorstep.

The couple had owned Geoffrey for more than 10 years and he was a small favourite with their 13 grandchildren.

"The police said somebody probably walked past, saw him, and said "I'll have that one day," said Mrs McMahon. "I don't think we stand a chance of getting him back. All the wardens and neighbours are on gnome alert."

The motive for Geoffrey's disappearance remains unknown but www.freethegnomes.com complains about gnomes forced to provide "slave labour" in Britain - and demands that they be set free.

Another message on its website says: "Britons, backed by the military regime of Britain, abduct gnomes and force them to stand in gardens for no pay.

"These gentle gnome labourers toil imprisoned, often in dangerous conditions.

"The regime has committed numerous gnome rights violations and continues to allow its citizens to enslave gnomes."

The website of another organisation, the Garden Gnome Emancipation Movement, serves as a mine of information on worldwide gnome-napping activity - which has now even reached as far afield as Japan and Australia.

Unlike the GLF, the GGEM opposes the liberation of gnomes. But it does stress that they should never be kept indoors because they are happiest in gardens.

One gnome thief known only as Alex reveals his interest in garden gnomes began when he was working as a milkman, the perfect disguise for people who want to nab a gnome.

First, he pinched two antique gnomes from a garden so he could decorate his own.

He got a buzz out of it, and every garden on his round "blossomed with artistic potential".

He would often swap one gnome with another, feeling smug in the knowledge that the owners would discover their ornament fishing instead of digging.

Ann Atkin, owner of the Gnome Reserve sanctuary in Holsworthy, Devon, knows that this is far from a victimless crime.

Ann, 72, says: "I've been running the reserve for 30 years and I absolutely love them.

"We're in the Guinness Book Of World Records because we've got 2010 of them.

"But they do go missing and it can be heartbreaking for the owners when they do, because we all treasure our gnomes.

"Several years ago students from local colleges would abduct gnomes and send ransom notes for jelly beans. And we still get gnomes going missing every year.

"We've had several people here who are holding somebody's gnome and they buy postcards from us so the gnome can write home.

"I suppose that's OK as long as they return them afterwards. Otherwise it's criminal theft, and I don't find that funny."

Gnome insurance

Put gravel on your path or driveway leading up to your gnomes so you will hear an intruder approaching.

Get some outside low-energy security lights to discourage thieves.

Mark your gnomes underneath with your postcode and house number.

Line your garden with hedges, holly and prickly bushes. Only the most determined thief will bother to clamber over these.

Take photos of all your gnomes.

Known gnome numbers

1847 Year the first garden gnomes arrived in Britain, at the Northants estate of Sir Charles Isham.

£1 million The amount "Lampy", the last remaining gnome of Sir Charles at Lamport Hall, is insured for.

£441 How much having gnomes in your garden will knock off the value of your house.

300 Types made by the world's famous garden gnome manufacturer, Germany's Griebel factory.

£8 The average price of a gnome in the UK.

13 feet 6 inches

The height of the world's tallest garden gnome. "Chomsky" stands in a miniature golf course at a farm in upstate New York.

BIG FACTS ABOUT THE LITTLE FOLK

Gnomes began invading gardens in the mid-1800s in Germany, when Phillip Griebel started making terracotta versions.

His models were based on local folklore, which said that gnomes liked to help in gardens at night. Soon the trend spread to France and England.

But the little folk did not prove popular with everyone. They have been banned from the Chelsea Flower Show since it first began, under a different name, 86 years ago.

Gnomes began invading gardens in the mid-1800s in Germany, when Phillip Griebel started making terracotta versions.

His models were based on local folklore, which said that gnomes liked to help in gardens at night. Soon the trend spread to France and England.

But the little folk did not prove popular with everyone. They have been banned from the Chelsea Flower Show since it first began, under a different name, 86 years ago.