BROMSGROVE , England, April 21 (UPI) -- A British woman said she was ordered by local officials to clothe the naked lawn gnomes that have stood in her front garden for about 15 years.

Sandra Smith, 64, said she was forced to cover the gnomes, one male and one female, after a neighbor complained about the garden decorations to the Bromsgrove District Council, The Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday.


"They have been here for around 15 years and everyone who visits me finds them funny and a bit harmless fun," Smith said. "They're proper cheeky chappies with their little smiley faces looking up at you."

"I'm going to be keeping the gnomes in the garden with their T-shirts on at the moment but I love like to get the gnomes out in their glory again," she said.

The neighbor, who asked not to be named, said the nude gnomes were inappropriate with children around.

"I don't think they should be in a garden with my young kids running around nearby," she said. "They are childish and I think it pathetic that they are in a front garden in full view of everyone."