For this week’s public opinion piece we put to people what was possibly our strangest question yet: ’Do you have gnomes?’

This followed a piece in the Manx Independent on Thursday (August 15) about Marion Craine who has too many of the collected ornaments to count.

The 88-year-old, who lives in Douglas, started decorating her garden with gnomes, ceramic animals and fairy bridges about five years ago.

Soon her vibrant lawn caught the imagination of island residents who would donate gnomes of their own or doll houses for her fairies to live in.

We went to Strand Street in Douglas to ask members of the public if it was a yes or a gnome for the ornaments.

’Gnomes are scary,’ said Ian Roberts, 69, from Rutland in the East Midlands.

’They do walk and talk. I’ve seen it on those television adverts.

’They disappear one night and come back the next.’

He himself has a big garden, but keeps the decorations to a minimum with flower borders.

’I wouldn’t dream of having gnomes,’ the Manx Grand Prix marshal said.

His friend, also a visiting marshal from Stoke-on-Trent, nodded in agreement.

’I definitely wouldn’t have gnomes,’ Grenville Mould, 67, said.

’I have a small garden with slate and grass to make it as easy to take care of as possible.’

Manna Kelly, 50, from Ballaugh, has one gnome.

’The kids painted it about 25 years ago so it has to stay at the front door,’ she said.

’I used to have a lighthouse and a windmill. I’m in my garden as much as possible.’

When asked if she would ever introduce a gnome friend to her existing one, she replied: ’One gnome’s enough to deal with.’

Her partner, Trevor Latus, 60, from the Woodbourne pub in Douglas, added that like Manna he spends a lot of time in the garden, but has no gnomes.

Martina Miller, 23, from Douglas, doesn’t have gnomes at home but encourages Marion’s hobby.

’I have no grass to put them on,’ she said.

’If I did I would probably have them somewhere that wouldn’t draw attention and maybe go for one or two "goofy-looking" gnomes.’

Chris Gregory, 44, from Peel, lives next door to someone with more than 60 gnomes in their front garden.

’There are male ones, female ones with big beards... My niece is completely fascinated with them,’ he said.

’She has been over to look at them.

’They put them there for people to go past and to be an attraction to the public, which is quite nice.’

Union Mills resident Alan Oates, 58, who spends a lot of time in his garden also has no gnomes.

’My wife would kick me out of the house if I got gnomes,’ he said.

’It doesn’t interest me, but I think anybody who wants to do something like that should.’

Do you have a good-sized collection of gnomes?

We’d love to hear about your collection and thoughts on the ornaments by emailing our letters page at [email protected].

Make sure you give us your name, phone number and address.