Scarecrow policeman confiscated

Miranda Skillings said the scarecrow "wasn't meant to mock the police"

A village fete scarecrow made to resemble a traffic policeman holding a speed radar gun has been removed from the roadside by officers.

Norfolk Police had given go-ahead for Brancaster villagers to dress the dummy in a police uniform.

But they did not realise it would be armed with a fake speed radar gun - made of plastic bottles.

Police later returned the scarecrow on the condition he lost the radar gun or was positioned away from the road.

Scarecrow country

Insp Dave Buckley said it was decided the use of the radar gun portrayed "an inaccurate and inappropriate message to passing motorists".

"We appreciate the spirit of the family-orientated festival but our priority is the safety of motorists.

"Speed radars are used to prevent casualties on our roads and to address the irresponsible actions of motorists - they should not be recreated by the roadside in jest."

It was put there as a bit of fun for the fete, and just to remind people to slow down - because they do come through the village too fast Miranda Skillings

The scarecrow was made by villager Miranda Skillings, and came complete with a sign, written in Norfolk dialect, which read: "SLOW YEW DOWN BOR YOR ENTERIN' SCARECROW COUNTRY".

"It wasn't meant to mock the police at all," said Mrs Skillings, 56, who runs an animal rescue centre.

"It was put there as a bit of fun for the fete, and just to remind people to slow down - because they do come through the village too fast.

"And it was working, people were slowing down when they saw it."

She said the scarecrow vanished three hours after being erected on Saturday, and villagers thought it had been stolen.

"We rang about four numbers for the police, and eventually got through to someone at Wymondham - where the headquarters is.

"He took down a description of what had been stolen, and thought we were having a laugh," added Mrs Skillings.

"They brought it back in a police Land Rover, and had it sitting in the front seat with them.

"When they got here, they took it out, and it looked so funny."

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