“After being placed in prominent places around the island where the public can enjoy them an Alderney deputy has insisted that they all need planning permission before they can go on display,” he said. 

“This would be like needing planning permission to display the charity puffins that recently got auctioned off [in Guernsey] - absolutely crazy bah-humbug behaviour.” 

The issue has since been resolved, with the states member involved with the project, Steve Roberts, simply explaining that, “there was an issue with planning permission so we were asked to keep them covered until formal permission had been received”.  

The placement of the statues was co-ordinated by the Lions Club of Guernsey. 

Pictured: States-member Steve Roberts and Uncle Bulgaria. 

Kevin Gentle from the Building and Development Control Committee was said to have resolved the issue and the wombles can now all be revealed. 

“The statues have cost taxpayers nothing as they are sponsored by several local businesses. There was a plan to organise a 'Guess the Womble' competition with the infant classes but now the Wombles are out of the bag, so to speak,” said Mr Roberts. 

“I’d like to thank all the local businesses plus States Works and the Harbour Office for their support.” 

People in Alderney can see the 4ft statues dotted around the island at the; Harbour, Butes, airport, woodland trail and lighthouse. 

The Wombles

Elisabeth Beresford created the Wombles for a series of children's books from 1968. 

The popular characters reached a wider audience in the 1970s after a children’s TV show was launched using stop-motion animation.  

Elisabeth went on to live in Alderney from 1978 to 2010.