Dilys Lloyd from Llwydiarth near Llanfyllin, Wales has found a novel way of bringing colour to a barren patch of land in her garden.  Where flowers had failed to grow, families of gnomes now flourish.

"I had tried growing flowers in this part of the garden but nothing seemed to work so about 20 years ago, I gave up and started collecting garden gnomes." Dilys now has around 70 gnomes but as yet has not given any of them names.

 She paints her gnomes every summer to keep their colour bright and cheerful. Dilys  also repairs the gnomes  from time to time due to damage caused by dogs and animals etc.

Lots of the gnomes have been given to Dilys by friends and family. The gnome with a fig leaf was a present from her 9-year-old grandson.  "This one is coming in to the house to be mended" said Dilys

"The garden gnomes have become quite a tourist attraction. As they pass, a lot of people stop their cars to have a look!"