A 3ft garden gnome – dubbed ‘Gnorman’ by an army of Facebook followers – was a surprise sales success for ASDA last week. “In stores and online, it was the best-selling outdoor product!,” a spokesman told GTN Xtra. “Obviously with the recent announcement that the garden gnome ban is being lifted at the Chelsea flower show this year, it's also quite a topical product!"

The hand-painted gnome sells for £25. Visitors to the ASDA’s trading website were greeted with “Sorry…out of stock” notices’ as this issue of Xtra was closing.