THE mystery surrounding 64 ornamental elephants that were left on doorsteps last week has been solved - after the owner came forward with the lovely story behind the gesture.

The sculptures were placed outside houses on Vincent Street, St Helens on Thursday night.

The incident was reported to Merseyside Police by concerned residents and officers then collected the elephants.

However, the owner of the elephants has now attended St Helens Police Station to collect the items and explained that they were left in tribute to the first anniversary of his wife's death.

The man, from St Helens, attended the station on College Street yesterday, Monday, November 30 and explained he had left the elephants to mark the first anniversary of his wife’s passing.

Community Sergeant Andy Halfpenny said: “I would like to thank those people who made us aware of the presence of the elephants out of genuine uncertainty about why they were there.

“Thankfully it has now been confirmed that the motivation was sheer kindness and the ornaments were left on doorsteps as a touching gesture by an elderly man in honour of his late wife who had collected them.”