http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/_images/db/38/39/knickers.383993.full.jpgA PERPLEXING mystery, which might be more at home in a Benny Hill sketch, is befuddling police officers in Purton.
For the past four months items of frilly lingerie have been turning up in the hedges, garden walls and road signs in a country lane in the village.
So far officers have collected 35 garments including knickers, bras and thongs.
PC Stephen Harvey, of Wiltshire Police, who is looking into the bizarre happenings, said: "This is an interesting one.
"In all my 26 years of policing I have never seen anything like this.
"We started receiving calls about four months ago, but at the time we really didn't take it much further. But it now seems to be a regular occurrence.
"The last incident was last weekend.
"There is no logic to what they are doing, it seems to be completely random."
The strange occurrences have been taking place along The Fox, a traditional country lane where there are several homes.
Yet residents have been unable to shed any light on the saucy goings-on.
"Normally you might associate this sort of thing as a prank or kids stealing items from washing lines," said PC Harvey.
"But we haven't had any reports of missing under-wear.
"Whoever is doing it is striking at night.
"They are taking their time. These items are always carefully attached. They aren't just slung on to signs.
"No-one is worried about what is going on, but as police we do wonder if something more sinister is going on or if it could lead to something more serious."
The underwear is brand new and labelled with the French brand Miriale.
"I looked up the brand name on the internet, and it appears to be a French firm," said PC Harvey.
"A lot of their items are sold on eBay."
It is not the first oddity to occur in Purton in recent years.
Back in 2004, residents were worried about vandals who appeared to be destroying flowers in the village's cemetery.
But early one morning groundsman Ken Parrett spotted deer busy munching away on the flowers before they darted off into nearby fields.
PC Harvey is keen to clear up what is going on and urges anyone with information to contact him at Cricklade police on 0845 408 7000 extension 741817 or on Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
