A gardener has given a new meaning to the concept of Neighbourhood Watch after cutting six staring faces into his hedge. See the 'faces' here
Michael Geiger's quirky creation in the front garden of his home in Little Norsey Road, Billericay, has left passers-by smiling and some drivers have even stopped to take a closer look.
The retired banker, 84, used gardening clippers and string to create the characters in the 12-ft leylandii.
The faces have been likened to the Moai statues found on Easter Island in the South Pacific whilst other people have called them the
"sleeping policemen" keeping watch on the street.
Mr Geiger who lives with wife Betty, 82, said his hedge was the talk of the town.
He said: "People seem to like the faces - the children especially will stop and have a look.
"They have become quite well known round here - they seem to be quite popular.
"The hedge was rather large and boring and I thought I might create a bit of interest by sculpting the faces in there.
"I think Betty thought I was becoming eccentric when I decided to do it."
When he first clipped the characters into the hedge, it took Mr Geiger about a year to complete the look because he had to let parts of the hedge grow.
But now the faces need just a monthly trim to keep them looking fresh.
He added: "I still do all the trimming of the faces but we get somebody in to cut the hedge every year as I am not so keen on going up the adders anymore."
