MARLOW Bottom residents have expressed their anger after neighbour Lyndon Yorke was targeted by vandals.

Neighbours have visited the inventor, of Andrews Way, to offer him their sympathies after a Second World War gun turret, which had adorned the roof of his garage, was smashed.

The Free Press told last week how Mr Yorke once voted Britain's most eccentric man was considering quitting the village after the attack on Saturday, April 23.

Three days earlier, the 55-year-old had received an anonymous letter claiming to speak on behalf of neighbouring residents, which asked him to remove the aircraft memorabilia.

However, Mr Yorke admitted messages of support following the breakage had been "very encouraging".

He said: "I've had around ten people pop in to say how much they will miss the turret and it's very encouraging to know people want me to stay.

"It has definitely made me think more about whether I should go, but I do feel vulnerable. Someone out there has done this and I am no nearer to finding out who."

Mr Yorke is known in the village for producing strange mechanical devices, including an amphibious Edwardian-style tricycle.

The aerial surveyor was crowned Britain's most eccentric man in a Kellogg's Fruit and Nut competition in 2001.

Chris and Anna Burmajster, of Andrews Way, said: "Most of us who live close to him have no problem whatsoever and we don't know who wrote the letter.

"In our eyes, he is a quiet, unassuming and good neighbour. It's a shame that whoever had a problem with Lyndon's turret, couldn't have simply knocked on his door and spoken to him about it."

Cath Duncan, another Andrews Way resident, condemned those responsible and described Mr Yorke as a "fantastic neighbour".

She told the Free Press: "We don't want him to go."