Locals baffled by dozens of golf balls dumped in their gardens

By Peter Spriggs

Residents have been left baffled after dozens of golf balls were found half-buried across more than 12 gardens.

Locals of Orchard Avenue in Hockley, Essex, think squirrels or foxes could be behind the balls strewn across their gardens.

Celia Hopkins said her grandchildren had discovered 17 golf balls partially buried in her front garden alone.

Celia said: "The grandchildren found them as they were leaving the house and we thought that's unusual and didn't think any more of it.

"Then the neighbor over the road said they had been appearing in their garden as well.

"I posted about it on Facebook to see if anyone might know anything and more than a dozen people down the road replied saying the same.

"It's just bizarre, there's been a debate about whether it might be squirrels or foxes but the nearest golf course is at least 10 minute drive away.

"It seems odd an animal would transport them so far if that's the case.

"If it's a prank, it's a pretty good one."

Celia says she has lived on Orchard Avenue since 1993 and her husband has lived there all his life and neither of them have ever seen or heard of anything similar happening in the area.

She added: "We keep finding them, my husband found two more yesterday and me and my grandson found another half a dozen today.

"Whatever is doing it must be doing it at night because we never see anything bringing them in to the garden.

"We know there are foxes around here and they're quite abundant but nothing like this has ever happened, it just raises more and more questions like where are they getting so many from.

"My grandkids think it's great fun and it's quite a puzzle, if anyone can shed any light on it we would love to know."