agray@thekmgroup.co.uk

Trouble could be afoot - after random findings of stray sports socks.

The discarded items have been found in trees, parks and gardens and bought toe-end of mystery to one village.

The phantom sock flinger has left Marden villagers baffled.

Some of the socks were tied in a knot and one, discovered in a resident’s garden, contained traces of dog food.

It looked like it had been ravaged by a dog or fox and the worried homeowner took the stripey garment to Marden’s community warden.

The RSPCA was notified and the immediate concern was that the sock also contained traces of poison.

None was found, but the sightings, the latest of which was reported last month, continued.

It prompted community warden Mira Martin to take the unusual step of posting a “suspicious-looking sock” warning via Marden Parish Council’s website.

She said: “We’ve had no further sightings since these strange incidents were brought to our attention.

“I would ask villagers to remain cautious and report anything unusual to police.”

The first single sock sighting was in April this year. It was discovered behind the Scout hut in the village car park.

Tied in a knot and filled with “bone material”, it baffled its discoverer, who wanted to remain anonymous.

She said: “It just seemed a very odd place to see something like that.
“The bones were like something you’d feed a dog and I threw them away.
“But when I spoke to work colleagues, they agreed it was a bit strange.”

But intrigue turned to concern when last month she found a second rolled-up sock filled with dog food in her garden.

The resident said: “My first thought was 'someone’s trying to poison my dog’, but then I wondered whether it was an attempted burglary and someone had tried to lure the dog away from the house.”

An RSPCA official said the absence of “blue or green crystals” meant it was unlikely the dog food had been poisoned but warned villagers to remain vigilant.

On the parish council’s website, the community warden has asked people to report anything unusual and if anyone sees any “dying or dead animals around ” to call police on 01622 690690.

Do you know who is the phantom sock flinger? Have you seen a stray foot adornment in Marden? Join the hunt by adding your comments below.