MYSTERY figurines have appeared at a theatre in Malvern for the second year running.

Dennis Neale, creator of the Theatre of Small Convenience, found a host of the tiny figures outside the theatre in Edith Walk on New Year's Day.

The same thing happened at exactly the same time last year, with the difference then that the figurines were a ghostly white colour, while this year's apparitions are a kind of pink.

They are about an inch and a half high, with two little dots near the top representing eyes.

Mr Neale said: "It was a surprise last year and I certainly wasn't expecting to see more of them this year. Apart from the colour, they are more or less identical to the ones that were left outside the theatre last year.

"I assume the same person made both lots of them. I've got no idea who it is, but it's nice to see that the theatre is inspiring creativity in others."

Mr Neale founded the Theatre of Small Convenience just over 17 years ago, converting a disused public lavatory dating from Victorian times for the purpose.

In 2002, it was officially recognised as the world's smallest theatre by the Guinness Book of Records, and more recently, it featured in a book written by two Czech academics highlighting some of Europe’s must unusual theatrical venues.

Mr Neale, a keen puppeteer and drama enthusiast, continues to run the theatre as an independent and non profit-making project.

Since its opening in November 1999, the theatre has hosted performances both professional and amateur of drama, puppetry, poetry, story-telling, music and monologues, and even a day of opera.