Leggy find

A homebuyer certainly got a foot on the property ladder when he found more than 100 false legs under the floorboards of his new house.

Mike Sutton thought builders were pulling his own leg when they told him of their discovery while installing a central heating system at the four-bedroom bungalow in Bridport, Dorset.

The cabbie, 65, said: 'The plumber came up and showed us a false leg he found. He said there were 99 more to go. I thought he was pulling my leg at first but, when I looked down there, I realised he wasn't joking.'

The left and right legs were of differing sizes and most had leather straps attached. Some crutches and a couple of walking frames were also found amid the pile. The treasure trove of walking aids is thought to be a legacy from one of the home's previous owners, described as a 'Del Boy' figure who probably bought it as a bulk purchase to sell on.

Where the legs came from is a mystery, although the name of Newton Abbot Hospital in Devon written on a crutch might be a clue. Mr Sutton and his wife, Teresa, 66, want to donate the legs to a charity or hospital.