Wish ewe were here!

When families have items stolen from their garden, it is usually by bored vandals who often just chuck their haul away.

But thieves who stole two ornamental sheep (yes, ornamental sheep) from one garden didn't just hang on to their booty - they took it on a trip round India.

The jokers nicknamed the life-sizeplywood and woollen sheep Larry andSean as they snapped them enjoying everything the country had to offer.

The sheep's owner, Jessie Lee, wasdumbfounded when this week - three-and-a-half years after they were stolen - the beasts were returned to her cottage in Holt, Norfolk, along with an envelope marked Larry & Sean's Holiday Photos.

The 16 pictures showed the intrepidsheep travelling all over India and visiting sights such as the Taj Mahal.

Other snaps showed them relaxingon a beach in Goa with cocktails atsunset, meeting camels in Rajasthanand visiting monuments in Karnataka.

The only clue as to who had taken the sheep was a picture of them attached to the backpacks of a coupleof young travellers.'They are slightly worn and tornafter their adventure but I am delightedthey are back,' said Mrs Lee.'I was very upset when they were stolen but was totally shocked whenthey returned. I never expected to seethem again.'

The 63- old is now hoping to meet the mystery backpackers so she can talk about their adventures.

'We would be more than happy tomeet whoever took them and find outmore about their travels,' she said.

Police launched an investigationwhen Larry and Sean were taken from Mrs Lee's garden in April 2001, just weeks after she moved in. They weremade by the sister of the cottage's previous owner, Stephen Scott-Fawcett.'I was fed up when they were stolen because they are personal to my family and had sat in my garden quitesafely for two years,' said Mr Scott-Fawcet tyear-The fact they have returned them isgood enough, but that they went to thetrouble to carry them around Indiaand take pictures is fantastic.

'It is obviously someone with agreat sense of humour.'