A retired church volunteer was left stunned when cops thought she had been dismembering bodies at her home.

Maureen Wall was questioned by officers after they spotted limbs through her window.

In fact, the 71-year-old was painstakingly putting together a unique nativity display for the local church.

The mannequins proved a bit of a problem for local cops (Picture: Caters)

The grandmother of one recalled: ‘A lovely police officer carrying out door to door enquiries knocked on my door.


‘But you could see the mannequin in the back of my house – and she looked very interested at what she could see on my kitchen table.

‘She was shocked, but relieved when she realised what it was.

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‘I opened my washroom and showed her three more fake bodies stood up waiting to join the display.



‘She said nobody as the police station would ever believe her.’

Maureen, of Bulwell, Nottingham, bought seven mannequins for £30 each plus an extra half body ‘just in case.’

The display was the brain child of Maureen, her sister Margaret Smetton, vicar David Grey and his wife Jo.

The final touches are being put to the display at the church in Nottingham (Picture: Caters)

It will be displayed at St John the Divine Church in Bulwell over the Christmas period.

Maureen, a former foster carer, continued: ‘I’ve been coming to this church for 45 years.

‘The display used to be done with cardboard but after a little while they would just fall to pieces.

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‘We had the idea to use mannequins, as we needed something more life size.

‘We had heard a place in Newark was selling old mannequins.

‘They cost us about £30 each, we bought seven in total with an extra half body just in case.

‘My sister did a fabulous job, she brought the mannequins to life.

Maureen recalled the police and a window cleaner have both questioned what is happening in her home (Picture: Caters)

‘Margaret is the most wonderful artist, and we have had no formal training.’

The knock by police is not the first time naked mannequins have posed a problem for Maureen.

She recalled another time when a window cleaner refused to enter her garden after spotting what he thought were two naked men there.

‘I invited him in and explained what they were,’ Maureen recalled.

‘He said they would work as great deterrents for anyone who might want to break into the house.

‘He felt foolish, walking out with his tail between his legs.’

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